Tag: Lord

TRUST THE LORD 2

DEVOTION: 15th March 2021 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD.” Jeremiah 17:7 What tremendous benefits are discovered for the one that trusts the Lord with all their heart and does not lean upon their own understanding. Trusting in the Lord is simply believing what God has said. It is having faith in […]

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TRUST THE LORD

DEVOTION 2/3/2021 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. Proverbs 3:5 KJV Trusting in God brings comfort and cheer, even in the midst of stress and crushing difficulties. Faith is what helps us trust God in difficult times. To trust, means to have a firm belief in […]

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AWAKE, LORD!

  October 2, 2020 | Psalm 44 DEVOTIONS This Month’s Issue On average, eleven Christians a day were killed for their faith in Jesus last year. In May 2019, the BBC reported that persecution of Christians was reaching “near genocide levels” in some parts of the world. This can lead us to ask “Why?” and […]

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LET THE LORD JUDGE

September 23, 2020 | 1 Samuel 24:1–22 DEVOTIONS This Month’s Issue A popular saying goes, “I don’t get mad. I get even.” Another word for this is revenge. It is not unusual for people to want to see those who have treated them unjustly punished. Even those who are godly have sometimes prayed that the […]

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RETURN TO THE LORD

September 7, 2020 | 1 Samuel 7:1-17 DEVOTIONS This Month’s Issue The hymn “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” written by Robert Robinson, celebrates God’s protection and grace. But did you ever wonder about this puzzling phrase: “Here I raise my Ebenezer. . . .”? The line refers to the name of a monument made […]

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HOLY IS THE LORD

September 6, 2020 | 1 Samuel 6:1-21 DEVOTIONS This Month’s Issue Every child has experienced that uncomfortable moment when they realize they have crossed the line with a parent. The first clue may be their dad’s stern tone of voice or that pinched look their mom gets. The result is usually a feeling of fear […]

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THE LORD PREVAILS

July 22, 2020 | Joshua 10:28 – 12:24 DEVOTIONS This Month’s Issue In Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, Sauron the Dark Lord of Mordor amasses enormous armies to take over middle earth and spread hate and evil. Peter Jackson’s films capture the scope and scale of these armies like never before, illuminated on the […]

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LISTEN TO THE LORD

July 16, 2020 | Joshua 8:1–29 DEVOTIONS This Month’s Issue Have you ever noticed that a few moments after someone speaks you’ve already forgotten what they said? Relationship counselors often recommend a practice called “active listening” where one person repeats back what someone else has said to them. This ensures the speaker that the recipient […]

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VENGEANCE IS THE LORD’S

July 15, 2020 | Romans 12:9–21 DEVOTIONS This Month’s Issue The amount of death and destruction described in the book of Joshua is not for the squeamish. Historian John Bright somewhat jokingly writes, “You simply cannot preach from this book, and you ought not to teach it to children. Shield our gentle ears from violence […]

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VENGEANCE IS THE LORD’S July 15, 2020 | Romans 12:9–21 DEVOTIONS This Month’s Issue The amount of death and destruction described in the book of Joshua is not for the squeamish. Historian John Bright somewhat jokingly writes, “You simply cannot preach from this book, and you ought not to teach it to children. Shield our gentle ears from violence such as this.” It is true that large sections of Joshua contain difficult passages about battles, conquest, and killing. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. ROMANS 12:18 As we read about the destruction of cities and kings, the violence can be overwhelming to modern-day readers, troubling to us as Christians, and offensive to skeptics. But let’s pause and consider this issue from a broader biblical and theological perspective. In Paul’s letter to the Romans, he discusses the repayment of evil. Paul contrasts our individual desire for retribution (v. 17) with God’s sovereign judgment of evil: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay” (v. 19). As Joshua led the conquest of the Promised Land, God would order the destruction of people and communities who were morally corrupt. Extra-biblical resources confirm that these places were populated by God-haters and were extremely evil. They practiced child sacrifice and other unthinkable behaviors. With each city destroyed, God was carrying out His divine judgment of sin. Paul’s letter to the Romans is a reminder that God commands us to love one another, and, as much as possible, to live in peace. We are to be the people who are “joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” (v. 12). But our call to exhibit these qualities does not negate God’s justice or His wrath in response to disobedience. Vengeance did not belong to Joshua, and it does not belong to us. Rather, it belongs to the Lord. God’s Word reminds us to abstain from seeking vengeance, and instead pursue peace. We are to love, care, and show generosity. When we leave vengeance to the Lord, we can better follow His leading. Are there people whom you need to approach with a more charitable attitude?

July 15, 2020 | Romans 12:9–21 DEVOTIONS This Month’s Issue The amount of death and destruction described in the book of Joshua is not for the squeamish. Historian John Bright somewhat jokingly writes, “You simply cannot preach from this book, and you ought not to teach it to children. Shield our gentle ears from violence […]

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