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Raised With Christ

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Scripture: Colossians 3:1-4 (NIV) Since then, you have been raised with Christ; set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Devotion: Paul doesn’t begin this passage by telling us what to do; he begins by reminding us who we are. “If then you have been raised with Christ…” Everything that follows grows out of that reality. The Christian life is not an attempt to climb our way up to God — it is the daily practice of living out what God has already done. We have been raised. We belong to Christ. Our lives are hidden in Him. Because of that, Paul calls us to seek the things that are above. This isn’t escapism. It’s not withdrawing from the world or ignoring the responsibilities God has given us. It’s reorienting our desires. It’s learning to ...
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Love Is

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Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (ESV) Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Devotion: This passage from the famous “Love” chapter from Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians explains what love is. Paul has just finished explaining in the previous verses that all the gifts and talents in the world are worthless if they are not practiced in love. So, he continues in these verses by explaining what this love he has been talking about looks like in practice. Let’s take a look at what the Holy Spirit, through the pen of Paul, has to say about this most misunderstood word, love. Paul starts by explaining that love is patient. Our society is not known for its patience. We have microwaves to cook our food in the shortest time po...
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Walk in the Ancient Paths

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Scripture: Jeremiah 6:26 (NIV) This is what the Lord says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ Devotion: There are moments in the Christian life when we realize we’ve been walking fast but not well. Our schedules are full, our minds are crowded, and our hearts feel strangely thin. Jeremiah’s words arrive in that hurried place like a divine interruption. God tells His people to stop, look, ask, and walk — four movements that lead to one destination: rest for the soul. The first movement is to stand. Before God directs our feet, He slows them. Israel was rushing headlong into idolatry, trusting in alliances, rituals, and their own wisdom. The Lord calls them to stop long enough to see where they are. We need that same pause. Spiritual clarity rarely comes while we’re sprinting. Second, God says, look not at the newest ideas or the...
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Lord Bless You

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  Scripture: Numbers 6:24-26 (NIV) “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” Devotion: In our society today, people often seek blessings, protection, and peace from many different sources. These things may bring temporary results but fail in the long run. In today’s scripture, we find Israel requesting these things from God. Blessings from God are eternal and bring us true blessedness that doesn’t fade or change with time. God gives us blessings, protection, and peace that never change or fade. Let’s explore these three gifts of God. First, let’s look at how God blesses and keeps His people. When we hear the word blessed, we may think of the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus declares blessings over a wide variety of situations. Jesus was explaining how God seeks to bless us in many ways. God seeks to provide for us, sustain us, and care for us. We can be certain of Go...
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You Make Me Glad

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  Scripture: Psalm 92:4 (NIV) For you make me glad by your deeds, Lord; I sing for joy at what your hands have done. Devotion: This verse reminds us that the deepest joy in the Christian life doesn’t come from circumstances but from recognizing God’s hand at work. The psalmist celebrates with gladness because God’s works are good, purposeful, and personal. We often rush through life without pausing to notice the ways God sustains, protects, and blesses us. Let us slow down and reflect on the kindness, goodness, and mercy that God has wrought in our lives today. The psalmist in this psalm is expressing his joy in what God has already done and will continue to do in his life. While God may allow us to encounter difficulties, God works all things together for good if we will but trust in Him. We have so much to be thankful for. We can rely on what God has done in Scripture and in our lives to give us hope for the future. We need to anchor our lives and our joy in the fact th...
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The Lord Has Done It

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Scripture: Isaiah 26:12 (NIV) Lord, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished, you have done for us. Devotion: With these words, Isaiah points out that all our accomplishments are either due to the gifts and talents the Lord has given to us or His sovereign will. How often we blame God when things go poorly for us while insisting that we accomplish anything positive all on our own. Isaiah here is challenging that mindset. God Himself gives us success and peace, and is the source of all blessings. We should give God praise for all He does for us, and ask for strength and courage when things go against us. This short verse should reorient our view of reality, instead of a “me” based outlook. We must develop a God-based outlook. If we can do this, we will naturally be at peace with the world and with ourselves. This is because we would have to give up controlling and planning our lives and allow God to be in charge. We should rely more on God than on ourselves. R...
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Love One Another

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Scripture: John 13:34-35 (NIV) “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Devotion: Jesus here issues a clarion call for a new way of love among believers. In a world where love is often reduced to sentiment or convenience, Jesus calls us to a higher standard. We are to love as He has loved us. Jesus showed His love for us by healing the sick, raising the dead, and loving us enough to go to the cross to pay the debt we could not pay. This command challenges us to examine our lives. How do we treat others? The way we live our lives reveals how closely we follow Jesus. Jesus here states the undeniable fact that the world will take notice when Christians truly love one another in a way that points to the One we follow. The context here is Jesus in the upper room with His twelve disciples before the Passover meal. Just prior to this teaching, Jesus ...
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