Typically, when we hear the word sin, our minds rush to thoughts of transgressions that to us seem huge: murder, adultery, stealing, homosexuality, and more. While some of these sins do have far-reaching consequences, none of them put people beyond the reach of God. No one is beyond His ability to forgive and restore.
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Read Matthew 5:31-32. At this point in Jewish history, there was a debate raging between Pharisees and other teachers of the law. It concerned a foundational issue from God's Law: marriage and divorce. You see, Deuteronomy 24:1 describes a certain situation in which a man divorces his wife because she becomes "displeasing to him" because "he finds something indecent about her."
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When we become serious about being Christ's disciples, Satan will work harder to discourage and to deceive us. And that is why we must know how to pray against deception.
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The parable of the lost coin found in Luke 15:8-10 portrays a woman's urgency to find one of her most treasured possessions. As is common when something of value is lost, she spares no effort to find her lost coin. You can feel her heart racing in panic as she lights a lamp and sweeps the dirt floor carefully and methodically until she finds what was lost. When she finds it, she ...
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Read Luke 24:13-21. For the disciples on the road to Emmaus, the cross hadn't just put an end to the life of Jesus; it had put an end to their hope as well. "[W]e had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel," they lamented (Luke 24:21). They saw their dreams dashed on the cross.
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Don't ever think that Jesus is not moved by your suffering and pain. Don't ever think that Jesus is not involved in whatever ache you may be experiencing right now. Don't ever think that Jesus is only walking with you and is not weeping with you—He is.
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Many believe that their spiritual journey is complete once they have professed their faith in Christ. However, just as wedding vows are only the beginning of a marriage, so a profession of faith is only the beginning of something much greater: a daily, living relationship with Christ.
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We all are starving for a personal experience of genuine, Biblical love. The teachers of shadow spirituality tell us that it is only as we love ourselves that we are able to open our hearts to receive divine love. But this is the opposite of God's true spirituality. We come to Christ when we recognize that we are nothing without God and that, even in our sinful state, Christ died for us. ...
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Some people believe that if they have a certain level of wealth, then they will have peace—or if they marry right, then they will know contentment. Others mistakenly believe that if they can just live in some ideal location or receive certain recognition at work, then they will have all they could ever hope to achieve.
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Sincere love hates evil and rebellion against God. It shows genuine appreciation and honor for others. It compels us to give to others who are in need even if it means sacrifice on our part. Sincere love is not selective but extends to people we find unlovable. It produces compassion that commiserates and celebrates with others.
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