No one is too lost for Jesus to find.

The same Bible that speaks about God's love is the same Bible that calls things sinful.

The Scriptures are meant to be believed and accepted in it’s entirety… not just the parts you like or don’t like.

Telling people that God loves them, has a wonderful plan for their lives, and wants them to follow their dreams, is NOT the Gospel.

The Gospel is that man has sinned against a holy God, that God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for their sins and rose from the dead, and all those who repent and trust Jesus for forgiveness of sins will be saved.

Lust begins with a glance.

It ends with guilt, shame, and destruction.

Don't give the devil a chance. Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus.

Every Muslim is deceived by Satan.

Every Hindu is deceived by Satan.

Every atheist is deceived by Satan.

Pray for Jesus to save them all.

May 8: Beyond Regret

#Devotional

Judges 13:1–14:20; Philippians 3:12–4:1; Psalm 69:1–17

I’ve excelled at regret. When I’ve dwelt on the wrongs I committed against other people and my offensive rebellion against God, I lost my focus. It’s difficult to be confident in our righteousness through Christ when we go through these periods.

I’ve excelled at regret. When I’ve dwelt on the wrongs I committed against other people and my offensive rebellion against God, I lost my focus. It’s difficult to be confident in our righteousness through Christ when we go through these periods.

In Philippians 3:12–14, Paul offers both hope and advice for these times based on his own experience:
“But I do one thing, forgetting the things behind and straining toward the things ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Paul looks forward to being with God in fullness and experiencing the fruits of his labor for the gospel, so he presses
“toward the goal.”
He emphasizes that we need to forget the
“things behind.”
Paul would have known the need for this. As a zealous Pharisee, he had persecuted the early church, counting himself the foremost of sinners (1 Tim 1:15).

Does forgetting imply that we act as if our failures never occurred? Not necessarily. We should seek forgiveness from others whenever possible. But it’s dangerous to dwell on the failures—to live in regret. In fact, we belittle Christ’s sacrifice if we purposefully or knowingly live in fear and guilt. He has paid for our sins and given us new life, and that means handing over our imperfections for Him to bear.

Paul swiftly moves from forgetting to
“straining toward the things ahead, [he says,] I press on” (Phil 3:14).
We are called to a new life in Christ, and this should be our focus. We will experience this, and we will know the complete fulfillment of this reality when He comes again. In the meantime, we can move forward without being crippled by our sins.

How are you caught up in your past mistakes? How can you seek help from God during these times while trusting in His forgiveness?

May 8 - Principles of Giving: Part 2

#LifeOfChrist

“‘When you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you’” (Matthew 6:3–4).

Continuing from yesterday’s list of scriptural giving principles, four more come to mind. First, financial giving correlates to spiritual blessings. God will not entrust things of greater value to those who are not faithful with lesser things. Jesus asks,
“If you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous wealth, who will entrust the true riches to you?” (Luke 16:11).
Men have dropped out of the ministry because they couldn’t handle their finances, and others remain but see little fruit because God won’t commit souls to them if they can’t manage material things, including their giving.

Second, believers must personally decide their giving. True giving will flow from a righteous heart, not artificially imposed percentages.
“Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9:7; cf. 8:1–2; Phil. 4:15–18).

Third, Christians must give toward the needs of others. The early Jerusalem church did not hesitate to share its resources (Acts 2:44–45), and years later Paul took a collection from Gentile churches to help meet the continued needs of believers in Jerusalem.

Finally, genuine giving demonstrates the love of Christ, not adherence to the law. The New Testament does not specify required amounts or percentages (such as the tithe) for our giving. The amount we give, which ought to be as generous as possible, will derive from our heartfelt love and our knowledge of others’ needs.

Ask Yourself

How do you go about deciding the amounts you give? Are you satisfied that you’re being obedient to the Lord in this? Remember, giving is not supposed to be a source of guilt but rather a fount of blessing and gratitude. Are you experiencing a high level of peace about your giving decisions?

DAY 8: What happened on the day that Christ was resurrected from the dead?

https://telegra.ph/DAILY-BIBLE-05-08

Christians, don't let the culture tell you what's right and wrong. The Bible is our final authority on every single issue.

We must stand firm on the truth even when it's unpopular.

At the heart of every problem is a heart problem, and only Jesus can change the heart.

He’s the solution to the world’s problems.

I was not created to live "my truth".
I was created to live the Truth.

Hell is the place where God's wrath is poured out on those who reject his Son. It's not a party with friends or a joke to be made. It's torment.

Repent and believe the gospel before it's too late.

John 14:6

Only Jesus is “Jesus”.

There are no “messiah-like” or “savior-like” figures. There is only one.

One Messiah. One Savior. One Lord. One King.

Jesus alone. No one else comes close.

This May, build your marriage like a mighty OAK tree! 🌳💪 Deep roots in Christ, strong branches of trust, and leaves that bring healing to others! Ps 1:3 ❤️ How deep are your roots growing? #StrongMarriage #May

The root cause of sin is that humans aren’t satisfied being humans.

They want to be God.

Mormons:
“We believe in the same God and Bible that Christians do.”

Also Mormons:
“Jesus is a created being.”
“Him and Satan are spirit brothers.”
“God has a physical body and was once a man who progressed to godhood.”
“You can work to become a God, too.”

It’s NOT the same!

Cultural JESUS:
-Preaches love only.
-Gives only health & wealth.
-Never says anything controversial.
-A nice guy & doesn’t offend.

Biblical JESUS:
- Preaches love, but also repentance.
-Gives salvation. hope & joy.
-Warns of sin, wrath & hell.
-Hated & despised by the world.

May 9: Success Deceives

#Devotional

Judges 15:1–17:13; Philippians 4:2–9; Psalm 69:18–70:5

When leaders come to power, there are always people who become insistent on stopping them. It’s incredible how easy it is for people to justify envy or hatred for authority figures. Most of us have made the offhand remark,
“I hate that guy.”
And in those words, even when they’re meant in jest, we reveal the motives of the human heart. But this doesn’t represent who we’re meant to be—people who live for others.

Samson, an Israelite judge, endured that fate. A young warrior, he had enemies who wanted him dead and would do nearly anything to bring him down—spiritually or physically. The Philistines who opposed him went so far as to burn his wife and her father alive (Judg 15:6). Samson brought these trials on himself by disobeying God and marrying a foreign wife who would ultimately lead him to worship foreign gods. Even so, the acts of violence against him were not just his own doing.

The Philistines, like many people today, didn’t like to see an enemy succeed. They were envious and frustrated, and they weren’t used to being second to anyone.

There are lessons here for all of us no matter where we’re at in life. If we succeed, we should be thrilled when others do the same. We should try to help them succeed in the work God has called them to, designated specifically for them. If you have yet to come into that realm of success, you should be excited when others do, for the same reasons. Whatever your position in life, set aside the obstacles of envy or hatred. Set your sight on the work God has called you to and encourage those around you who are working toward theirs.

How can you help others succeed in God’s work? How can you set your sight on your own work without becoming envious?

May 9 - True Giving Should Anticipate Rewards

#LifeOfChrist

“‘When you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you’” (Matthew 6:3–4).

When you give as Jesus directs—lovingly, unpretentiously, and with no concern for public recognition—“your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.” In other words, if you remember, God forgets; and if you forget, God still remembers. You should simply try to meet every need you can and leave the bookkeeping to Him. This kind of giving is just a matter of realizing that
“we have done only that which we ought to have done” (Luke 17:10).

There is nothing wrong with humbly anticipating our reward for true and honest giving. God knows our hearts, attitudes, and motives, and He will not fail to reward us appropriately. After all, our sovereign Lord knows exactly what everyone is doing (Heb. 4:13).

In giving and every other realm of good works, Jesus Christ is our perfect role model (cf. Eph. 2:10). He preached and taught before crowds large and small, and He did miracles of healing, compassion, and power over nature for many to see and benefit from. But He always focused the final attention on His heavenly Father and did not seek His own glory but the Father’s (John 8:49–50).

Our motive in hoping for any rewards ought to be the anticipation of placing them as offerings at the Lord’s feet, like the twenty-four elders who
“will cast their crowns before the throne, saying, ‘Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power’” (Rev. 4:10–11).

Ask Yourself

Like with any sinful tendency you wish to conquer, the secret is daily obedience, even in the smallest ways, not wanting to give the enemy the slightest opening for victory. In what ways could the day ahead likely give you an opportunity to practice this—to seek God’s reward alone?

DAY 9: What was the resurrected body of Christ like?

https://telegra.ph/DAILY-BIBLE-05-09