This week in our Rooted in Christ we are going to be looking deeper at 1 John 2: 18-29. Today we’ll look at the World in Front of the Text for verses 26-29. As we mentioned in the World of the … Continue reading
This week in our Rooted in Christ we are going to be looking deeper at 1 John 2: 18-29. Today we’ll look at the World of the Text of verses 26-29. I wanted to pay special attention to this passage, as … Continue reading
This week we are going to be looking at Jeremiah 32: 1-15; 36-44. Jeremiah is often called the weeping prophet, as his book is full of sadness and pain over the capture and destruction of Jerusalem. He wrote this book that … Continue reading
Today’s reading is John 14: 15-31 We are reminded today by Jesus that we have someone on our side, that we have an “advocate.” We have the Holy Spirit who is for us. The Spirit will help us; He will intercede … Continue reading
Today’s reading is Acts 8: 1-25 Today, we see someone new enter the scene. We see Saul. Saul approved of this killing. Remember this. We’ll see Saul again soon. But remember that at this Saul not only approved of Stephen’s death … Continue reading
Today’s reading is Luke 12: 1-21 In our reading from this morning, we see one of the more fearful passages in all the Bible, the concept of blasphemy. Jesus tells us that it is the unforgivable sin. But why? What makes … Continue reading
One of the reasons why I think it is hard to give witness to our faith is we don’t know what to say. How can I share my faith? What will say? How can I invite someone to church? What … Continue reading
Sometimes we can feel really alone in life. Sometimes life can seem overwhelming. Sometimes we can be afraid and not know what we are supposed to do, where we are supposed to go. We can just feel alone and afraid. … Continue reading
We all make mistakes. That’s part of the human experience. We all mess up. We all blow it. We all fail. That’s what happens. And because we all fail, we really do all need to hear that word of grace. Jesus came, suffered, died, and was raised to life again because of God’s great love for us.
We are loved. No matter what has ever happened, no matter what the sin, no matter what has gone wrong.
We are loved.
You have to drill that truth down into your skull. You have to let the truth of God’s amazing love for you penetrate your very being. You are loved. More than you’ll ever know.
Don’t hold onto your sin and failings, hold onto His love.
Now, that said, there’s something else we need to know. We need to know the dangers of our sin. While our sin, through Jesus is forgiven and done away with, we also do not need to treat sin as though it isn’t something that is terrible destructive.
Listen to what it says in Hebrews 3: 12-13:
Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
Be careful that we are not hardened by our sin. Make sure that our sin continues to convict us. It is a dangerous, dangerous thing then when we sin and it doesn’t bother us. Especially if our sin is something that we chose to do. If it’s something that we KNOW, we have no doubt about, it’s clear as day, is wrong. And it doesn’t bother us.
When we have a hardened heart, we aren’t living the fullness of God’s power and glory. We aren’t seeking His life, His grace, His mercy, His power. His very life that He desires for us to live.
Today, you are forgiven. You are. Live in that grace.
But be careful with sin. Be careful. It’s not good. It is destructive. It will harm you, your relationships, your life, your everything. The devil seeks to rob, kill, and destroy.
And one of the things he longs to do is harden our heart. Don’t let that happen. Keep your heart soft. Pray. Read. Serve. Live. Let God’s grace soften your heart. Live in grace. Be careful of sin.
And allow God to continue to change you. And in that, we truly live.
Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones, and you thought our app, you can now watch our worship services from Asbury too!
All that glitters is not gold. Don’t judge a book by it’s cover. These are phrases that we have each heard in our lives that teach us to be careful. To look. To listen. To dig deeper than outward appearances. To really search the trust of the matter.
To look deep.
Just because something “looks” good at first glance doesn’t necessarily mean that it is good, or is the right thing, or that it is true. Look. Listen. Dig deep.
In regards to the Bible. Just because some TV preacher said it, or just because a famous preacher tweeted it, doesn’t make it true. Dig down deep your self.
In relationships, just because you think someone is wrong, or you have heard that they have done something awful, take a moment to actually find out what happens. Don’t always assume the worst.
In temptation, something may look appealing. It may look like fun. It may seem like something that no one would ever know about, what’s it going to hurt?
Stop. Look. Listen. Consider. Dig deep. Don’t judge a book by it’s cover. Look deep. Listen to what Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 11:14:
And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
Paul is talking about false teachers, about how what they say sounds good, but in truth, what they say is wrong. Paul says be careful. Even the devil look right at first glance. But he brought destruction.
Be careful. Don’t assume. Dig. Learn. Listen. Look.
With the bible, look for yourself. Read yourself. Seek help and wisdom from those you trust, but you are empowered by the Holy Spirit to read and learn from yourself.
With others, seek truth, not just assume the worst. Truly get to know others before making a decision.
And be very, very, very careful with temptation. It may look appealing, but it will destroy, when left unchecked.
Be aware. Be careful. Trust in God. And follow Him, in all things.
Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phone.
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