Before asking God to give you the right person, ask Him to turn you into the right person.
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Students don't need us to protect them from this world, by shielding them from the truth.
They need us to help them navigate this world, by discipling them in the Truth.
They need us to help them navigate this world, by discipling them in the Truth.
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Water baptism is a public sign of an inward reality. It is a command to obey, not a way to be washed of sin. Only repenting and trusting in Jesus washes away your sin.
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September 24: Speaking the Truth with Love
#Devotional
Zechariah 3:1–5:11; Acts 21:27–22:21; Job 29:1–12
Read today’s headlines and you might conclude that Christian boldness is a thin disguise for defensiveness, anger, and demeaning behavior. Believers who feel voiceless in their society sometimes respond by becoming adamant “defenders of the faith” in ways that can be destructive. In an age of instant electronic communication, our potential for good or harm has increased exponentially. But if we lay claim to special rights as Christians, we have forgotten that we’re supposed to be like Jesus.
We need wisdom and spiritual maturity to share our faith with love. Paul serves as a model for using influence in a Christ-like way. In Acts 21–22, Paul encountered an angry Jewish mob that wanted him dead. He could have responded to the crowd self-righteously, looking down on them from his enlightened position. Instead, Paul confessed that he was once a persecutor of “this Way” (Acts 22:4). He could have used his status as a Roman citizen to his own advantage. Instead, he testified about the “Righteous One” to people who vehemently opposed him.
Paul came from a place of humility. He appealed to the Jews by telling them his own story—simply, boldly, and honestly. He emphasized his transformation: He was once a persecutor of the Church, but now he shared the work of Jesus in his life.
We should be ready to do likewise, to spread the gospel by speaking the truth in love, without insisting on our rights or using our influence in self-serving ways. We should be like Paul, but mostly we should be like Jesus. We should be ready to preach wherever and whenever we can and trust that God will work out the rest.
How are you sharing the gospel with both truth and love?
#Devotional
Zechariah 3:1–5:11; Acts 21:27–22:21; Job 29:1–12
Read today’s headlines and you might conclude that Christian boldness is a thin disguise for defensiveness, anger, and demeaning behavior. Believers who feel voiceless in their society sometimes respond by becoming adamant “defenders of the faith” in ways that can be destructive. In an age of instant electronic communication, our potential for good or harm has increased exponentially. But if we lay claim to special rights as Christians, we have forgotten that we’re supposed to be like Jesus.
We need wisdom and spiritual maturity to share our faith with love. Paul serves as a model for using influence in a Christ-like way. In Acts 21–22, Paul encountered an angry Jewish mob that wanted him dead. He could have responded to the crowd self-righteously, looking down on them from his enlightened position. Instead, Paul confessed that he was once a persecutor of “this Way” (Acts 22:4). He could have used his status as a Roman citizen to his own advantage. Instead, he testified about the “Righteous One” to people who vehemently opposed him.
Paul came from a place of humility. He appealed to the Jews by telling them his own story—simply, boldly, and honestly. He emphasized his transformation: He was once a persecutor of the Church, but now he shared the work of Jesus in his life.
We should be ready to do likewise, to spread the gospel by speaking the truth in love, without insisting on our rights or using our influence in self-serving ways. We should be like Paul, but mostly we should be like Jesus. We should be ready to preach wherever and whenever we can and trust that God will work out the rest.
How are you sharing the gospel with both truth and love?
❤1
September 24 - Water and Spirit; Flesh and Spirit
#LifeOfChrist
“Jesus answered, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I said to you, “You must be born again”’” (John 3:5–7).
Jesus answered Nicodemus’s objection by elaborating on the truth He introduced in verse 3: “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” “Water” and “Spirit” often refer symbolically in the Old Testament to spiritual renewal and cleansing.
It was surely Ezekiel 36:24–27 that Jesus had in mind, which shows regeneration to be an Old Testament truth with which Nicodemus should have been acquainted. Christ’s point was unmistakable: Without the spiritual washing of the soul, a cleansing accomplished only by the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5) through the Word of God (Eph. 5:26), no one can enter God’s kingdom.
Jesus continued by further emphasizing that this spiritual cleansing is wholly a work of God and not the result of human effort: “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” Just as only human nature can beget human nature, so also only the Holy Spirit can effect spiritual transformation.
Even if a physical rebirth were possible, it would produce only flesh. Thus only the Spirit can produce the spiritual birth required for entrance into God’s kingdom. Regeneration is entirely His work, unaided by any human effort (cf. Rom. 3:25).
Ask Yourself
What have you needed washing from your heart in the last several days or weeks? How have you gone about seeking the Lord’s cleansing and renewal? How have you experienced the reality of His refreshment?
#LifeOfChrist
“Jesus answered, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I said to you, “You must be born again”’” (John 3:5–7).
Jesus answered Nicodemus’s objection by elaborating on the truth He introduced in verse 3: “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” “Water” and “Spirit” often refer symbolically in the Old Testament to spiritual renewal and cleansing.
It was surely Ezekiel 36:24–27 that Jesus had in mind, which shows regeneration to be an Old Testament truth with which Nicodemus should have been acquainted. Christ’s point was unmistakable: Without the spiritual washing of the soul, a cleansing accomplished only by the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5) through the Word of God (Eph. 5:26), no one can enter God’s kingdom.
Jesus continued by further emphasizing that this spiritual cleansing is wholly a work of God and not the result of human effort: “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” Just as only human nature can beget human nature, so also only the Holy Spirit can effect spiritual transformation.
Even if a physical rebirth were possible, it would produce only flesh. Thus only the Spirit can produce the spiritual birth required for entrance into God’s kingdom. Regeneration is entirely His work, unaided by any human effort (cf. Rom. 3:25).
Ask Yourself
What have you needed washing from your heart in the last several days or weeks? How have you gone about seeking the Lord’s cleansing and renewal? How have you experienced the reality of His refreshment?
❤1
No matter what the world believes, we are all accountable for keeping an absolute moral standard of a very real God or face a very real Hell, and we must warn people of that fact.
The sovereignty of God is the pillow upon which the child of God rests his head at night, giving perfect peace.
Charles H. Spurgeon
Charles H. Spurgeon
“An atheist is someone who is certain that God does not exist, someone who has compelling evidence against the existence of God. I know of no such compelling evidence.”—Carl Sagan
There are over 8 billion people in the world right now, and every single person has one great need...
JESUS.
JESUS.
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September 24 (Thursday)
Dear Daughter,
Wheat is separated from chaff not to punish the chaff, but to purify the wheat for bread.
Let this season separate what's substantial in your marriage from what was only noise — social comparison, old offenses, borrowed anxieties.
Bread comes only after the winnowing.
'He will clear his threshing floor' (Matt 3:12).
What chaff is your marriage ready to let the wind carry away?
#DearDaughter #WinnowedForBread #StrongMarriage
Dear Daughter,
Wheat is separated from chaff not to punish the chaff, but to purify the wheat for bread.
Let this season separate what's substantial in your marriage from what was only noise — social comparison, old offenses, borrowed anxieties.
Bread comes only after the winnowing.
'He will clear his threshing floor' (Matt 3:12).
What chaff is your marriage ready to let the wind carry away?
#DearDaughter #WinnowedForBread #StrongMarriage
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Sep 24 (Thu)
Humility keeps a home peaceful! 🙇❤️ Value your spouse above yourself today! Phil 2:3 💪
Where can you yield today? #StrongMarriage #September
Humility keeps a home peaceful! 🙇❤️ Value your spouse above yourself today! Phil 2:3 💪
Where can you yield today? #StrongMarriage #September
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The sovereignty of God is the pillow upon which the child of God rests his head at night, giving perfect peace.
Charles H. Spurgeon
Charles H. Spurgeon
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Believers, guard your hearts against the love of money. Earthly treasures will perish when this life ends. Set your eyes on the eternal inheritance waiting for you in Heaven.
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Jesus didn't hangout with sinners because He wanted to appear inclusive, tolerant, and accepting.
He spent time with them to show them who He was, and how to live differently.
His goal is to transform lives, not affirm sin.
He spent time with them to show them who He was, and how to live differently.
His goal is to transform lives, not affirm sin.
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If we have time to read social media, we have time to read the Bible.
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“We play the fool when we put atheism in the category of intellectualism.” —Ray Comfort
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False views of salvation that lead straight to Hell:
• Relying on baptism to save you
• Believing your good deeds outweigh bad deeds
• Hoping God will simply forgive you because he's loving
Only repenting and trusting in Jesus saves.
• Relying on baptism to save you
• Believing your good deeds outweigh bad deeds
• Hoping God will simply forgive you because he's loving
Only repenting and trusting in Jesus saves.
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