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graciousheaven · 2 years

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SEEK HOPE IN TIME

Besides his sinful nature, another defining characteristic of man is his relentless pursuit of happiness, his unrestrained desire to live in peace, for the world is under curse. Some may ask, why the curse? The Lord cursed the world because of human rebellion against Him. In other words, the world where we live is cursed as a result of sin. Others may ask, why are we all subject to the curse? The answer is, “For all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory” (Rom. 3:23). No one is inherently righteous; for we were all conceived in sin, born in sin, and in sin we live. We are all inherently evil, by nature enemies of God, alienated from his glorious presence because of our moral corruption.

These truths exist: we are utterly depraved while God is holy, and no one can escape the implications of this reality. Affirming the Lord’s holiness, Hab. 1:13 says, “Your eyes are too pure to look at evil, and You cannot look on wickedness with favor. […]” Expanding on Habakkuk's assertion that the Lord abhors sins and that the wicked cannot find favor in God’s sight, the psalmist writes, “For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness, nor shall evil dwell with You. The boastful shall not stand in Your sight; You hate all workers of iniquity. You shall destroy those who speak falsehood; the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man” (Ps. 5:4-6).

To stand in the presence of the holy God, one must be without sin. But the truth is: no human being born of a man and a woman is sinless; we are all sinners. A sin is an offense against God, a violation of his commandment. Every sin is punishable by death by the Lord, the Holy One against Whom the offense is perpetrated. And one sin is enough to condemn one’s soul to eternal destruction. In other words, it only takes one sin to end up in hell. Therefore, what we all deserve is death, i.e. eternity in hell; for we have all sinned against God by breaking his laws and commands. And so, the Apostle Paul writes in Rom. 5:12, “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned.”

That death is the destiny of all men is without a doubt a devastating revelation to every reasonable mind, for as Heb. 10:31 says, “It is a terrifying thing to fall in the hands of the Living God!” But there is a comforting truth I am pleased to share with you today, i.e. the good news of peace, the message of hope, the Gospel of Christ, through Whom God offers redemption to every repentant sinner. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” God graciously justifies the wicked and rewards them with eternal life, setting them free from the sting of death; He puts out their dread by giving them hope. However, this life, this hope is only available for those who know where and when to find it, and who seek it wholeheartedly.

God in his love, sent his only begotten Son into this world to save those who turn to Him in repentance and faith, in order to obtain remission of their sins and find peace with God. “For our sake He (God) made Him (Christ) to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor. 5:21); “For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of his cross” (Col. 1:19-20).

Christ is our Hope! Anyone who humbles himself, recognizing his own sinfulness and inability to save himself, and turns to Christ in repentance and faith is graciously freed by God from the sting of death; he is cleansed of all his filthiness by the precious blood of Christ and crowned with everlasting life. Christ died for those who recognize their spiritual bankruptcy, then turn to Him in repentance and faith, confessing Him as Lord and Saviour. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven”, declares the Lord in Mat. 5:3.

Today is the day of salvation, the season of salvation, when Hope can be found. In the beginning of his earthly ministry, the Lord declares in Mark 1:15, “The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” I exhort you to seek the Lord when He is near, to turn to Christ the Lord and Saviour before judgement comes. For the day is coming, i.e. the Day of God’s wrath, the season of damnation, when the Lord will punish all those who in their pride have trampled underfoot the precious blood of his Son, treating it like a worthless thing. Those who reject the blood of Christ have no hope for salvation, as Heb. 10:26-29 clearly specifies it, “For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?”

Zep. 1:15 says, “A day of wrath is that day, a day of distress and anguish, a day of ruin and devastation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness, a day of trumpet blast and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the lofty battlements. I will bring distress on mankind, so that they shall walk like the blind, because they have sinned against the Lord; their blood shall be poured out like dust, and their flesh like dung. Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them on the day of the wrath of the Lord. In the fire of his jealousy, all the earth shall be consumed; for a full and sudden end He will make of all the inhabitants of the earth.”

The day is coming, when the Lord will unleash his righteous judgments upon the ungodly, upon those who place their hope in the futilities of this world. God will punish the self-righteous, those who think that their good works can save them from the coming judgements. Salvation is found exclusively in the Lord Jesus Christ. He came into this world in the likeness of man and went to the cross, “that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery” (Heb. 2:14-15).

However, the sting of death remains attached to all those who reject the Lord Jesus Christ, the holy Lamb of God who takes away the sins of men; He is our victory over death. If you have not yet turned to Christ, I urge you now to flee from the wrath to come. Do not wait for the Day of the Lord to come upon you. For “Behold, the Day of the Lord comes, cruel, with wrath and fierce anger, to make the land a desolation and to destroy its sinners from it. For the stars of the heavens and their constellations will not give their light; the sun will be dark at its rising, and the moon will not shed its light.” (Isaiah 13:9-10) reads. V.11-13, “I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; I will put an end to the pomp of the arrogant, and lay low the pompous pride of the ruthless. I will make people more rare than fine gold, and mankind than the gold of Ophir. Therefore I will make the heavens tremble, and the earth will be shaken out of its place, at the wrath of the Lord of hosts in the day of his fierce anger.”

Neither your good works, nor your merits cannot justify you before God; “Nor is there salvation in any other [than Christ], for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). To those who turn to Him in repentance and faith, Christ is Hope. When He came into this world, He called people to “Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Mat. 4:17). And before ascending back to glory, the Lord said to his disciples, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:15-16).

This is the season of salvation! The Lord has stretched out his hand of mercy to welcome anyone who is burdened by his sins, anyone who wants to have peace with God and escape hell. Thus declares the Lord in Mat. 11:28-30, “Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” In Isaiah 45:22-23 the Lord God declares, “Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. By myself I have sworn; from my mouth has gone out in righteousness a word that shall not return: ‘To Me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance.”

Isaiah 55:1-3, “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to Me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to Me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.” V.6-7, “Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that He may have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.” Do not harden your heart, for “Behold (says the Lord in Rev. 3:20), I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with Me.”

There is no forgiveness without repentance, and no one can please God without faith, faith in his Son Jesus Christ. Salvation is by God’s grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. “He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by his stripes we are healed” (Isa. 53:5). From glory to humiliation, Christ conquered death and accomplished the redemption of the sons of men. “And blessed is the one who is not offended by Me”, declares the Lord in Mat. 11:6. “For whoever is ashamed of Me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels”, says the Lord in Mark 8:38. “So everyone who acknowledges Me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies Me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven”, declares the Lord in Mat. 10:32-33.

Unless you lay down your pride and your pretense of virtue and piety, you will die in your sins and go to hell; unless you count your works as refuse and seek the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, there will be no hope for your soul; unless you repent of your sins and put your trust in the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, you will not escape the wrath of God. For you are a debtor who cannot afford to pay his debts. You have sinned against the holy God; neither your good works or merits, nor your nobility or influence in this world can justify you before Him. Zep. 1:18 says of all those who place their hope in the futilities of this world, “Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them on the Day of the wrath of the Lord. In the fire of his jealousy, all the earth shall be consumed; for a full and sudden end He will make of all the inhabitants of the earth.”

John 3:36 says, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” All those who do not turn to Christ in repentance and faith remain at enmity with God, they are unable to make peace with God. Their works cannot atone for their sins, they cannot appease God’s wrath. Consequently, they are subject to the second death, i.e. hell. As children of wrath, they will be tormented day and night, the full measure of God’s wrath will be their portion for all eternity. The Lord gives hope and life to every repentant sinner. But on the day of his wrath, “to him shall come and be ashamed all who were incensed against Him” (Isaiah 45:24). Anyone who rejects Christ the Living Hope “will drink the wine of God's wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb” (Rev.14:10).

I urge you to seek the Lord’s mercies, that He may clothe you with his robe of righteousness and shield you on the day of his wrath. Stop trying the Lord’s patience! You may presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, “But (as Paul writes in Rom. 2:5-8) because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgement will be revealed. He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, He will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.” God’s kindness, as the Apostle Paul says, “is meant to lead you to repentance”, for the Lord does not hold guiltless anyone who violates his commands. So repent of your sins, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and He will give you eternal life!

There is no hope for the ungodly, there is no escape for anyone who rejects the Son of God, “because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead” (Acts 17:31). If you have not yet settled the account of your sins with God, I urge you today to turn to the Lord before the day of his wrath is revealed. The holy God is angered by your sins every day. And every sin that you commit adds to the cup of bitterness that God has prepared for you. I urge you to flee from the futilities of this world, from the sinful passions and lusts of the flesh, and seek forgiveness in Christ Jesus. Unless you repent of your sins and turn to Christ the Saviour, you will never find peace with God.

Do not try to convince yourself that you will escape judgement. “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to Me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it”, declares the Lord in Is. 55:10-11. In other words, everything the Lord has promised, including his judgments, will come to pass. Ps. 1:5 says, “…the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.” “But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint” (Is. 40:31). “For the Lord loves justice and does not forsake His godly ones; they are preserved forever, but the descendants of the wicked will be cut off” (Ps. 37:28).

Do not be deluded by false preachers, because their view of man (that he is essentially good) and of God (that God being love cannot send people to hell) is wrong. They measure themselves according to human standards rather than God’s standard, i.e. his holiness. According to God’s standard, “No one is good except God alone”, declares the Lord in Mark 10:18. Rom. 3:10 reads, “None is righteous, no, not one.” These false preachers have a wrong view of God and his character, and thus teach that God loves sinners. Here is the truth: God is holy and righteous, He hates sin and sinners. And He will judge all those who do not repent of their sins; He will send them to hell.

The Lord is a God of wrath; He expresses his righteous indignation against injustice and iniquity, He punishes those who refuse to abandon their evil ways. To the ungodly, He is a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense. “Whoever falls on that stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder”, says the Lord in Luke 20:18. But those who admit their spiritual corruption, humble themselves by acknowledging their inability to save themselves and then turn to the Lord in repentance and faith will inherit the Kingdom of God. Mat. 3:12 reads, “His winnowing fork is in his hand, and He will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire.”

Do not be fooled by the Roman Catholic Church who believes in salvation by faith plus works; it teaches that faith is a necessary but insufficient condition to salvation. Rome also claims that the sacrament of baptism is a means through which one can be justified before God. Justification is by faith alone, in Christ alone. As Is. 64:6 says, “we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; we all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” The righteousness that saves, as Paul says in Rom. 3:22-25, is “the righteousness of God [granted] through faith in Jesus Christ [and available] for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.”

If you cling to your good works, you will die in your sins and go to hell. If you think you are right with God because you have received water baptism, I urge you to repent of your sins and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ; and He will impute his righteousness to you, and you will be saved. For justification is by faith alone. Hab. 2:4 reads, “…the just shall live by his faith.” It is only by faith in God’s Son that one can be right with God. “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Rom. 10:9).

Through the substitutionary death of his Son on the cross, God has atoned for sins. But only those who repent of their sins, recognize that they have neither worth nor virtue, and put their trust in Christ receive his righteousness and are justified before God. Justification is granted not on the basis of what we ourselves have done, but rather on the basis of Christ’s work on behalf of those who have faith in Him. Is. 26:3 says this, “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in You.” Jer. 29:13, “You will seek Me and find Me, when you seek Me with all your heart.” Ps. 145:20, “The Lord keeps all who love Him, but all the wicked He will destroy.”

Every day that passes brings us closer to the Day of the Lord, the Day of his wrath, when “The Son of Man will send forth his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Mat. 13:41-42). Do not delay! Flee from the wrath and seek refuge in Christ our Hope, for tomorrow will be too late. Seek the Lord now that his hand of mercy is stretched out to welcome all repentant sinners. “The LORD Almighty says, ‘The day is coming when all proud and evil people will burn like straw. On that day they will burn up, and there will be nothing left of them” (Malachi 4:1).

There will not be a second opportunity for latecomers. Salvation is now or never. Hope is to be found now or never, for this is the season of hope, the season of salvation. Soon it will be harvest, the season of judgement. The Lord says in Luke 12:40, “You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” “Therefore (to repeat the words of the Apostle Peter in Acts 3:19), repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jer. 29:11).

https://www.faithintheoneaboveall.com/post/seek-the-lord-while-he-may-be-found

#repent of your sins #call to repentance #turn to Christ #Isaiah 55:6-7 #turn to the Lord #seek hope #Christ is Hope #the Hope of life #graciousheaven

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coreofthebible · 1 year

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Isaiah's outline of the steps to forgiveness

Isaiah’s outline of the steps to forgiveness

Today we will be looking at the core Bible principle of forgiveness, and how we have the ability, through faith in Messiah, to gain the privilege of being reconciled with our Maker when we recognize that our lives are not in alignment with his purposes. To accomplish this, we must repent of those things that are outside of his will for us. Isaiah 55:7 – Let wicked people abandon their ways. Let…

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drshermaines-wisdomnuggets · 9 months

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"LIVING IN TRIUMPHANT HOPE"

1 Peter 1:3-12, “Praised (honored, blessed) be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah)! By His boundless mercy we have been born again to an ever-living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, [Born anew] into an inheritance which is beyond the reach of change and decay [imperishable], unsullied and unfading, reserved in heaven for you, Who are being guarded…

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absent-minded-daydreamer · 1 year

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This Teaching Clip made me think of you. Watch Isaiah 55:6-7 by Lucy Grimble:

Prayer:

God, through Jesus, You have made Yourself known. Thank You for providing a way for me to know You deeply. When I struggle to hear You, please give me encouragement and guidance through Your Word. Help me to turn closer to You and further away from my old life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

#christian blog #christian video #christian #christianity #vers of the day #bible app #Isaiah 55 : 6 - 7 #May you have a blessed day!#Peace for you all #Your heavenly Father is with you

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girlbloggercher · 2 months

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how to read the Bible

this is in order!

1. John

2. Mark

3. Matthew

4. Luke

5. Genesis

6. Exodus

7. Leviticus

8. Numbers

9. Dueteronomy

10. Romans

11. Galatians

12. Colossians

13. Proverbs

14. Ecclesiastes

15. Job

16. 1 Peter

17. 1 Corinthians

18. 2 Corinthians

19. Ephesians

20. Philippians

21. 1 Thessalonians

22. 2 Thessalonians

23. 1 Timothy

24. 2 Timothy

25. James

26. 2 Peter

27. 1 John

28. 2 John

29. 3 John

30. Jude

31. Psalms

32. Joshua

33. Judges

34. 1 Samuel

35. 2 Samuel

36. 1 Kings

37. 2 Kings

38. 1 Chronicles

39. 2 Chronicles

40. Ezra

41. Nehemiah

42. Jeremiah

43. Lamentations

44. Ezekiel

45. Joel

46. Amos

47. Obadiah

48. Nahum

49. Habakkuk

50. Zephaniah

51. Haggai

52. Zechariah

53. Malachi

54. Micah

55. Hosea

56. Luke

57. Esther

58. Jonah

59. Song of Solomon

60. Acts

61. Titus

62. Philemon

63. Hebrew

64. Isaiah

65. Daniel

66. Revelation

#that girl #wonyoungism #clean girl #glow up #coquette #health and wellness #christianity

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viathatoneartist · 1 year

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Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. ROMANS 5:9

Praise be to Jesus Christ who paid the price of sin so that any one who repents can come to Him for forgiveness, mercy and grace!

Happy Resurrection Sunday.

Seek the Lord while He may be found,

Call upon Him while He is near.

Let the wicked forsake his way,

And the unrighteous man his thoughts;

Let him return to the Lord,

And He will have mercy on him;

And to our God,

For He will abundantly pardon

Isaiah 55 6-7

#ressurection #ressurection Sunday #jesus #anime art

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hopethroughscriptureministries · 1 month

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Parable of the Prodigal Son:

Jesus conveyed a profound message about forgiveness, redemption, and the boundless love of God. Let's reframe the narrative within this Christian context, drawing from Luke 15:11-32, and infuse it with additional biblical insights.

A certain man had two sons. The younger son asked for his share of the inheritance and journeyed to a distant land where he squandered his wealth in reckless living. Soon, a severe famine swept through the land, and the young man found himself in dire need.

In his desperation, he sought employment feeding pigs, a job that symbolized his degradation and distance from his upbringing. Yet, in his lowest moment, he came to his senses and decided to return to his father, confessing his sins and seeking forgiveness.

His father, filled with compassion, ran to greet him while he was still far off. Instead of condemnation, the father embraced his wayward son, clothing him in the finest robe and celebrating his return with a lavish feast.

Meanwhile, the older son, who had remained obedient and dutiful, grew resentful at the extravagant welcome given to his brother. But the father, ever merciful, reminded him of the importance of forgiveness and reconciliation.

This parable echoes the essence of divine mercy and the unconditional love of God. Just as the father welcomed back his repentant son, so too does our Heavenly Father eagerly await our return, ready to forgive and restore us to fellowship with Him.

The Prodigal Son reminds us of the importance of humility, repentance, and forgiveness in our Christian journey. It challenges us to examine our attitudes towards others, particularly those who have strayed from the path, and to emulate God's boundless love and compassion.

Broader context:

Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32):

This is the main passage where the parable is found.

Forgiveness and Reconciliation:

Matthew 18:21-22 - Jesus teaches about forgiveness.

Colossians 3:13 - Encouragement to forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Ephesians 4:32 - Be kind and compassionate, forgiving one another.

Luke 6:37 - Judge not, and you will not be judged; forgive, and you will be forgiven.

God's Unconditional Love:

Romans 8:38-39 - Nothing can separate us from the love of God.

1 John 4:16 - God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God.

Romans 5:8 - God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Ephesians 2:4-5 - But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ.

Repentance and Restoration:

Acts 3:19 - Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out.

Joel 2:13 - Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love.

Isaiah 55:7 - Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

2 Corinthians 5:17 - Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Celebration in Heaven over Repentance:

Luke 15:7 - Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

Luke 15:10 - Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.

God's Provision and Restoration:

Philippians 4:19 - And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Psalm 23:1 - The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

Matthew 6:26 - Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

God's Sovereignty and Compassion:

Psalm 103:8 - The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

Lamentations 3:22-23 - The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

James 5:11 - Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

Questions:

How does the parable of the Prodigal Son reflect God's unconditional love and forgiveness?

In what ways do we, like the older brother, struggle with forgiveness and harbor resentment towards others?

How can we cultivate a spirit of compassion and reconciliation in our interactions with those who have gone astray?

What steps can we take to emulate the father's example of mercy and grace in our daily lives?

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, we thank you for the timeless wisdom and grace revealed in the parable of the Prodigal Son. Teach us to extend forgiveness, show compassion, and embrace reconciliation in our relationships, reflecting your boundless love for all your children. Amen.

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officialyourdailyinspiration · 15 days

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Walking in the Light

If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in the darkness, we lie and don’t tell the truth. But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son, cleanses us from all sin. — 1 John 1:6-7 | World English Bible, American English Edition, without Strong's Numbers (WEBUS) The World English Bible, American English Edition (without Strong's Numbers) is in the public domain. Cross References: Psalm 51:2; Isaiah 2:5; Isaiah 6:7; Isaiah 33:24; Matthew 6:12; John 3:21; John 8:12; John 8:55; John 12:35; 2 Corinthians 6:14; 1 Timothy 6:16; Titus 2:14; 1 John 2:4; 1 John 2:11

#fellowship #darkness #dishonesty #walking #light #blood #Jesus #Son of God #purity #sins #cleansed #unity #1 John 1:6-7 #The Epistle of First John #WEBUS #World English Bible: American Edition

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lionofthegoldsun · 28 days

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[Maintaining A Clear Conscience]

Believers in Christ must strive to maintain a clear conscience: we must remove any pollution or defilement in our minds, hearts, and souls. That includes being cautious of what we say (Matthew 15:11), what we hear—practically anything NEGATIVE our soul absorbs, which can pollute it. And whatever we absorb can cause us to behave in a not so pleasing way to God (Romans 12:1).

This can happen without us being aware. For instance, if you run to the internet to answer your questions and to solve your problems, instead of God’s truth, you’re not going to have peace because the world is full of lies and ruled by spirits of darkness (Ephesians 6:12).

“We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.”

-1 John 5:19

These are deceiving spirits who want to take our focus off God and drag us down. They want us to feel as if there is no hope. It’s all a distraction.

The devil will use our emotions to toy with us. Therefore, trusting other sources, our hearts, and people instead of God and His word will only birth fear, paranoia, and anxiety, which are not fruits of the spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).

Not only that, the human heart is deceitful (Jeremiah 17:9). And as Proverbs 28:26 says: “He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will escape.”

As Believers, this will only make us stumble and our faith wobble. That is why we need to root ourselves in God and in His word.

“They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”

-Jeremiah 17:8

“It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.”

Psalm 118:8-9

“Don’t put your trust in mere humans. They are as frail as breath. What good are they?”

-Isaiah 2:22

“Fools believe every word they hear, but wise people think carefully about everything.”

-Proverbs 14:15

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”

-Philippians 4:8-9

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

-Philippians 4:6-7

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

-2 Corinthians 10:5

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

-Isaiah 55:8-9

“Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.”

-Romans 12:2

“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!”

-Isaiah 26:3

“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

-Colossians 3:2

#christian #bible verse #christianity #bibleverse #jesus christ #jesus loves you #faith in god #faith in jesus #follower of jesus christ #god

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allscripture · 1 year

Quote

Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

Isaiah 55:6-7 (KJV)

#Seek #Forsake #Mercy #Pardon #Bible Verses #Bible Quotes #Isaiah #Isaiah55 #KJV

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apocrypals · 1 year

Text

Previously, on Apocrypals part 5: The Fifth One

As we begin our sixth (!) calendar year of Apocrypals, here is a list of the texts we have covered so far on the show in case you want to read along or catch up. They’re arranged in a way that appeases my systematic nature.

Tanakh/Old Testament:

Genesis (episodes 16-20)

Exodus (episodes 33 and 35)

Leviticus (episode 59)

Numbers (episode 62)

Deuteronomy (episode 65)

Joshua (episode 73)

Judges (episode 80)

Ruth (episode 45)

1 Samuel (episode 89)

2 Samuel (episode 90-91)

1 Kings (episode 99)

2 Kings (episode 106)

Esther (episode 37)

Job (episode 101)

Ecclesiastes (episode 52)

Song of Songs (episode 34)

Isaiah (episode 4)

Jeremiah (episode 43-44)

Lamentations (episode 48)

Ezekiel (episode 55-56)

Daniel (episode 2)

Hosea (episode 108)

Jonah (episode 31)

Micah (episode 74)

Nahum (episode 74)

Deuterocanon/capital-A Apocrypha:

Tobit (episode 13)

Judith (episode 22)

Greek Additions to Esther (episode 37)

1 Maccabees (episode 27)

2 Maccabees (episode 28)

3 Maccabees (episode 53)

4 Maccabees (episode 78)

The Prayer of Azariah aka the Song of the Three Holy Children (episode 2)

Susanna (episode 2)

Bel and the Dragon (episode 2)

The Prayer of Manasseh (episode 6)

New Testament:

Matthew (episodes 8-9)

Mark (episode 7)

Luke (episode 10)

John (episode 11-12)

Acts of the Apostles (episode 1)

Romans (episode 5)

1 Corinthians (episode 25)

2 Corinthians (episode 42)

Galatians (episode 72)

Ephesians (episode 81)

Hebrews (episode 104)

1 John (episode 49)

2 John (episode 49)

3 John (episode 49)

Revelation (episode 50)

Pseudepigrapha (Jewish apocrypha):

The Testament of Solomon (episode 24)

The Story of Ahikar (episode 14)

The Ascension of Isaiah (episode 6)

1 Enoch (episode 39-40)

2 Enoch (episode 61)

3 Enoch (episode 86-87)

Jubilees (episodes 82 and 83)

The Letter of Aristeas (episode 70)

The War of the Sons of Light Against the Sons of Darkness (episode 71)

Joseph and Aseneth (episode 93)

New Testament apocrypha:

The Protevangelium aka Infancy Gospel of James (episode 29)

The Acts of Pilate/Gospel of Nicodemus (episode 23)

Mors Pilati/Death of Pilate (episode 23)

The Acts of Paul and Thecla (episode 22)

The Acts of Peter (episode 3)

The Acts of Peter and Paul (episode 3)

The Acts of Andrew and Matthias (episode 60)

The Acts of Thomas and His Wonderworking Skin (episode 66)

The Life of Xanthippe, Polyxena, and Rebecca (episode 57)

Questions of Bartholomew (episode 41)

Resurrection of Jesus Christ by Bartholomew (episode 41)

The Book of Bartholomew (episode 67)

Acts of John (episode 46)

The Acts of Andrew (episode 97)

Syriac Infancy Gospel (episode 47)

Infancy Gospel of Thomas (episode 54)

Infancy Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew (episode 79)

The Adoration of the Magi (2020 Christmas bonus episode)

The History of Joseph the Carpenter (episode 103)

The First Apocryphal Apocalypse of John (episode 68)

The Second Apocryphal Apocalypse of John (episode 68)

The Third Apocryphal Apocalypse of John (episode 68)

The Apocalypse of Peter (episode 75)

The Apocalypse of Paul (episode 95)

The Gospel of Philip (episode 92)

The Gospel of Mary (episode 92)

The Gospel of Jesus’s Wife (episode 92)

The Gospel of Judas (episode 100)

The Greater Questions of Mary (episode Secret 69)

The Golden Legend of Jacobus de Voragine:

The Life of Saint Nicholas (episode 26)

The Life of Saint Lucy (episode 26)

The Life of Saint Christopher (episode 15)

The Life of Saint Benedict (episode 15)

excerpts from The Passion of the Lord (episode 23)

The Life of Saint Sebastian (episode 58)

The Life of Saint Blaise (episode 58)

The Life of Saint Agatha (episode 58)

The Life of Saint Roch (episode 63)

The Life of Saint Catherine of Alexandria (episode 77)

The Life of Saint Barbara (episode 77)

The Life of Saint Dunstan (episode 85)

The Life of Mary Magdalene (episode 94)

The Life of Saint Martha of Bethany (episode 102)

The Life of Saint Margaret of Antioch (episode 102)

Other:

Historia Trium Regum/The Legend of the Three Kings by John of Hildesheim (episode 30)

Muirchu’s Life of Saint Patrick (episode 36)

The Life of Saint Guinefort (episode 63)

The Life of Saint Mary of Egypt (episode 69)

The Life of Saint Pelagia (episode 69)

The Life of Saint Martin by Sulpicius Severus (episode 76)

The Life of Saint Columba (episode 84)

The Life of Saint Wilgefortis (episode 94)

Lives of cephalophoric saints (bonus episode cephalo4)

Stories of the Baal Shem Tov from The Golden Mountain (episode 96)

More stories of the Baal Shem Tov from The Golden Mountain (episode 107)

Solomon and Ashmedai (bonus episode double chai)

Listener questions (episode 32)

Bible trivia questions (episode 38)

Halloween-themed Chick tracts (episode 51)

Christmas-themed Chick tracts (episode 98)

Bible Adventures and the Wisdom Tree catalogue of video games (episode 64)

The Da Vinci Code, the movie (episode 88)

Guess the Bible character from Persona 5 (bonus episode Persona 5)

El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron (episode 105)

You can find links to all these episodes with show notes and more on the Apocrypals wiki

#apocrypals #podcast #podcasts #religion #bible #christianity #judaism #apocrypha #old testament #new testament #hagiography

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hiswordsarekisses · 11 months

Text

Since I was a little girl I always assumed that I knew what Jesus looked like because of all the pictures I had seen. I will never forget the day I wanted more specifics and I prayed for Him to show me what He looks like now, and the next thing I knew I was reading a description of Him in the first chapter of Revelation.

I had read that description of Him hundreds of times, yet, for some reason what stuck with me instead were the pretty pictures of the handsome dark-haired Jesus. The only “for sure” description we have is in the Bible, and between the Old and New Testaments, He is described with white hair and “eyes like fire.”

This bled over into who I thought His character was as well. Although I read my Bible, I held onto my own version of Him rather than what was actually on the pages - and quite clearly I might add. That day I began praying to know Who He really is. All I want to know is Who He really is.

My desire to know Him was overwhelming enough that I became brave enough to lay down all the things I had been taught to see and all the things *I thought I knew.* Revelation after revelation came flooding to my heart as I would read like I was digging for treasure. This was the most important thing He ever taught me to do in learning to know Him…. Every once in a while I still get a brand new, unmarked Bible and each day I still pray for Him to teach me.

I have Learned so much over the years that is different from what I was convinced that I knew for sure was true. The biggest thing I learned was just like His Word says - it’s when you think you know, that you really know nothing. (1 Cor 8:2)

It’s amazing how openly receiving your heart becomes when, in humility, the truth is all that matters to you.

That is the “love of the truth” that 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 is speaking of, that keeps us safe from deception.

Our journey as a Christian a lot of the time, is letting go of our assumption about who God is and letting it fall away as He replaces it with Who He actually says He is in His own Word. He is not like us. His character is written out in His Word - His Word is His heart written down for us to know Him. If we base our knowledge of Him on the way we think or feel, or on what a human in a pulpit has told us - I guarantee that we do not know Him at all. Unless we abide in His Word daily, prayerfully studying the Love of our life, the world around us will color our perspective of what true love is. This is a strong warning that has been on my heart for years.

God has said; “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,”

declares the LORD. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.” in Isaiah 55:8-9. This is why we must press on to know Him. So “let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to know him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.” (Hosea 6:3)

“His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.” Revelation‬ ‭1:14-16

“His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.” Revelation‬ ‭19:12-13‬

“I watched till thrones were put in place, And the Ancient of Days was seated; His garment was white as snow, And the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, Its wheels a burning fire;” Daniel‬ ‭7:9‬

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