A man saturated in Scripture becomes dangerous - to the devil, to sin, and to complacency. Open that Bible like your spiritual life depends on it.
🔥3
The same Gospel that has saved people for 2,000 years still saves people today.
🔥4
Jesus didn't say, "Follow me and you'll be blessed."
He said, "Take up your cross and follow me."
The cross is an instrument of death.
If your faith hasn't cost you anything, you might not have faith at all.
He said, "Take up your cross and follow me."
The cross is an instrument of death.
If your faith hasn't cost you anything, you might not have faith at all.
❤5
April is the month of SPRING RENEWAL — let it begin in your marriage! 🌸💪 New life is bursting everywhere! Let FRESH GRACE, FRESH FORGIVENESS, and FRESH PURSUIT bloom in your home! 🌱 2 Cor 5:17 ❤️
What NEW thing is God wanting to GROW in your marriage this April? #StrongMarriage #April
What NEW thing is God wanting to GROW in your marriage this April? #StrongMarriage #April
👍4
Some things Jesus says will never happen to believers in John's gospel:
• Never die (11:26)
• Never perish (3:16)
• Never hunger (6:35)
• Never thirst (4:14; 6:35)
• Never be cast out (6:37)
• Never come under judgment (5:24)
• Never be snatched out of His hand (10:28)
• Never die (11:26)
• Never perish (3:16)
• Never hunger (6:35)
• Never thirst (4:14; 6:35)
• Never be cast out (6:37)
• Never come under judgment (5:24)
• Never be snatched out of His hand (10:28)
❤7
He is fully God and fully man, the perfect mediator, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
There is no one like Jesus!
There is no one like Jesus!
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Jesus did not die so you could live a comfortable life on earth. He died to defeat sin and death and grant you eternal life with him.
Seek the Kingdom above all else (Matt. 6:33).
Seek the Kingdom above all else (Matt. 6:33).
❤4🔥1
Salvation comes through repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the only Savior who actually paid for sin (Acts 4:12).
We ALL (you, me, Trump, and everyone else) need forgiveness and salvation through Jesus.
@StudyBibleFam
We ALL (you, me, Trump, and everyone else) need forgiveness and salvation through Jesus.
@StudyBibleFam
❤3
April 12: Costly Grace
#Devotional
Deuteronomy 23:1–25:19; 2 Corinthians 6:1–13; Psalm 39
When we say something hurtful to a friend or a family member, we know we can’t just ignore the harm we have caused (we should know, anyway). In order to repair the relationship and earn back trust, we have to acknowledge the rift we’ve created. But when it comes to our relationship with God, we don’t always look at it the same way. Sometimes, consciously or unconsciously, we belittle the incredible love that He has shown us.
When we don’t acknowledge our sin as an act of rebellion, we feel far from God. We’ve created this great divide because we’ve tarnished our relationship with Him. In Psalm 39,
the psalmist is in great agony over his sin—to the point where he acknowledges that people are nothing and his life is vanity: “Surely a man walks about as a mere shadow” (Psa 39:6).
Without God, life is meaningless. The psalmist acknowledges that his transgression has done great harm. He turns to God and says:
“And now, O Lord, for what do I wait?” (Psa 39:7).
At the heart of that cry is a need for redemption from a God that answers. He provided a way of salvation—one that was incredibly costly through Christ. In 2 Corinthians, Paul stresses the importance of not taking this great gift for granted:
“Now because we are fellow workers, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain.… Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation!” (2 Cor 6:1–2).
Paul’s call is urgent because Jesus’ coming to earth wasn’t a small gesture. It was incredible. If we aren’t amazed at it, if we scorn it (even by accident), we may miss out. We have a greater hope than the psalmist was ever able to realize; his broken cry would not be fully answered for centuries. So today, when you hear God’s call, don’t respond with silence. Respond with a thankful heart.
Are you ignoring sin in your life? How can you live with a thankful heart, since Christ has bought you with such a great sacrifice?
#Devotional
Deuteronomy 23:1–25:19; 2 Corinthians 6:1–13; Psalm 39
When we say something hurtful to a friend or a family member, we know we can’t just ignore the harm we have caused (we should know, anyway). In order to repair the relationship and earn back trust, we have to acknowledge the rift we’ve created. But when it comes to our relationship with God, we don’t always look at it the same way. Sometimes, consciously or unconsciously, we belittle the incredible love that He has shown us.
When we don’t acknowledge our sin as an act of rebellion, we feel far from God. We’ve created this great divide because we’ve tarnished our relationship with Him. In Psalm 39,
the psalmist is in great agony over his sin—to the point where he acknowledges that people are nothing and his life is vanity: “Surely a man walks about as a mere shadow” (Psa 39:6).
Without God, life is meaningless. The psalmist acknowledges that his transgression has done great harm. He turns to God and says:
“And now, O Lord, for what do I wait?” (Psa 39:7).
At the heart of that cry is a need for redemption from a God that answers. He provided a way of salvation—one that was incredibly costly through Christ. In 2 Corinthians, Paul stresses the importance of not taking this great gift for granted:
“Now because we are fellow workers, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain.… Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation!” (2 Cor 6:1–2).
Paul’s call is urgent because Jesus’ coming to earth wasn’t a small gesture. It was incredible. If we aren’t amazed at it, if we scorn it (even by accident), we may miss out. We have a greater hope than the psalmist was ever able to realize; his broken cry would not be fully answered for centuries. So today, when you hear God’s call, don’t respond with silence. Respond with a thankful heart.
Are you ignoring sin in your life? How can you live with a thankful heart, since Christ has bought you with such a great sacrifice?
April 12 - Jesus Clarifies Murder’s Definition
#LifeOfChrist
“‘You have heard that the ancients were told, “You shall not commit murder” and “
Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.” But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, “You good-for-nothing,” shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, “You fool,” shall be guilty enough to go into fiery hell’” (Matthew 5:21–22).
Throughout history, most decent people rest assured that at least one sin they have not committed is murder. The conventional wisdom limits murder to physically taking another person’s life. But Jesus’ teaching on murder shatters the self-righteous complacency of so many good people.
God’s original command
“you shall not commit murder”
was of course scriptural (Ex. 20:13). But the Jewish practice of taking murder cases to civil court fell well short of the biblical standard in three ways: it did not prescribe the death penalty (Gen. 9:6), it did not take God’s holy character into consideration (His role in meting out judgment, the sinfulness of taking a life made in His image, or the general disobedience to the law), and it said nothing about the heart offense of the murderer. These omissions ignored David’s statement in Psalm 51:6,
“You [God] desire truth in the innermost being, and in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom.”
With the transitional words,
“But I say to you,”
Jesus begins to point us to a scriptural understanding of murder and its implications. Murder goes much deeper than physically taking someone’s life. It originates with evil thoughts in the heart, and is still a serious sin, whether or not it culminates in violent action against another person.
Ask Yourself
If Jesus is making this harder than before, then what’s so freeing about being free from the law? Why is this more helpful than a black-and-white statute?
#LifeOfChrist
“‘You have heard that the ancients were told, “You shall not commit murder” and “
Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.” But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, “You good-for-nothing,” shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, “You fool,” shall be guilty enough to go into fiery hell’” (Matthew 5:21–22).
Throughout history, most decent people rest assured that at least one sin they have not committed is murder. The conventional wisdom limits murder to physically taking another person’s life. But Jesus’ teaching on murder shatters the self-righteous complacency of so many good people.
God’s original command
“you shall not commit murder”
was of course scriptural (Ex. 20:13). But the Jewish practice of taking murder cases to civil court fell well short of the biblical standard in three ways: it did not prescribe the death penalty (Gen. 9:6), it did not take God’s holy character into consideration (His role in meting out judgment, the sinfulness of taking a life made in His image, or the general disobedience to the law), and it said nothing about the heart offense of the murderer. These omissions ignored David’s statement in Psalm 51:6,
“You [God] desire truth in the innermost being, and in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom.”
With the transitional words,
“But I say to you,”
Jesus begins to point us to a scriptural understanding of murder and its implications. Murder goes much deeper than physically taking someone’s life. It originates with evil thoughts in the heart, and is still a serious sin, whether or not it culminates in violent action against another person.
Ask Yourself
If Jesus is making this harder than before, then what’s so freeing about being free from the law? Why is this more helpful than a black-and-white statute?
❤1
Jesus didn't come to earth because it was full of "good people" that just needed a life coach.
He came because it was full of sinners that desperately needed a Savior.
He came because it was full of sinners that desperately needed a Savior.
❤2
Success is not found in a car, house, career, or money.
Success is when your name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life.
Success is when your name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life.
❤5
The Father planned it,
The prophets foretold it,
The disciples doubted it,
The soldiers denied it,
The empty tomb proved it,
The angels proclaimed it,
JESUS IS RISEN!
The prophets foretold it,
The disciples doubted it,
The soldiers denied it,
The empty tomb proved it,
The angels proclaimed it,
JESUS IS RISEN!
❤4
Post-Easter April challenge:
Don’t let resurrection joy fade into routine! 🔥 Keep the FIRE ALIVE! Keep FORGIVING quickly! Keep PRAYING together! Keep CHOOSING love daily! Your marriage can stay in RESURRECTION POWER all year! 💪 Rom 6:4 🌟
What resurrection habit are you keeping STRONG this week? #StrongMarriage #April
Don’t let resurrection joy fade into routine! 🔥 Keep the FIRE ALIVE! Keep FORGIVING quickly! Keep PRAYING together! Keep CHOOSING love daily! Your marriage can stay in RESURRECTION POWER all year! 💪 Rom 6:4 🌟
What resurrection habit are you keeping STRONG this week? #StrongMarriage #April
"God is love" is true. But it's not the whole truth. God is also holy. Just. Wrathful toward sin.
A theology that emphasizes love while ignoring justice is not biblical. It's therapeutic. It produces nice people, not disciples.
A theology that emphasizes love while ignoring justice is not biblical. It's therapeutic. It produces nice people, not disciples.
Following Jesus isn't a small adjustment to your life. It's a complete transformation. He never leaves a person the way He found him or her. That's the good news.
He reshapes everything. Your family life. Your friendships. Your work. Your leadership. The way you see the world. Nothing stays untouched when Christ takes hold of a life.
Jesus didn't come to affirm who you already are. He came to call you into something far greater. Real life. True life. Eternal life.
So here's the question this moment:
Are you ready to lay down your life to find the one that actually matters?
Are you ready to follow Him today?
He reshapes everything. Your family life. Your friendships. Your work. Your leadership. The way you see the world. Nothing stays untouched when Christ takes hold of a life.
Jesus didn't come to affirm who you already are. He came to call you into something far greater. Real life. True life. Eternal life.
So here's the question this moment:
Are you ready to lay down your life to find the one that actually matters?
Are you ready to follow Him today?
❤2