Tuesday... He has taken care of both sides of the picture.

Tuesday... He has taken care of both sides of the picture. And that is such good news.

1 John 2:1 (NIRV) says, "My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But suppose someone does sin." That tells a lot about who God is. It really does.

We as parents look at our kids and we tell them what we want them to do and we figure that if we tell them then that is all that is needed and we really get upset when they don't do it. We say, "I told you not to do that. You know you're not to do that." But God knows that that isn't enough. Just because He says it doesn't mean we will do it. John writes, "But suppose someone does sin."

John goes on, He says "Then." Here comes the solution that God has put into place for when and if we do sin. Now to go back. We don't have to sin. We don't. We could hear that He doesn't want us to sin. Over and over He tells of the rewards if we don't and the consequences if we do. He doesn't want us to sin.

For an example, Proverbs 15:6 says, "The houses of those who do what is right hold great wealth. But those who do what is wrong earn only ruin." Here's some more. Verses 8 & 9 says, "The Lord hates the sacrifice of sinful people. But the prayer of honest people please him. The Lord hates how sinners live. But he loves those who run after what is right." Over and over God tells us of the rewards of not sinning and also the consequences if we do sin. And some have done what God wants them to do. But for those who don't He gives them a "then".

"My dear children, I'm writing this to you so that you will not sin, But suppose someone does sin. Then we have a friend who speaks to the Father for us. He is Jesus Christ, the Blameless One. He gave his life to pay for our sins, But he not only paid for our sins. He also paid for the sins of the whole world."

Now 1 John 1:8-9 says, "Suppose we claim we are without sin. Then we are fooling ourselves. The truth is not in us But God is faithful and fair. If we confess our sins, he will forgive our sins. He will forgive every wrong thing we have done. He will make us pure." He has told us what He wants us to do and He has taken care of what we are to do if we haven't done what He wants us to do. Now that is really good news, isn't it? Yes, yes! #todaysbeginning

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Tuesday... It is so worth it. It really is!

Tuesday... It is so worth it. It really is! Look at this, Proverbs 5:21-23 (CEV) says, "The Lord sees everything, and he watches us closely. Sinners are trapped and caught by their own evil deeds. They get lost and die because of their foolishness and lack of self-control." That is true of so many. Now look at this, Luke 15:1-7 says, "Tax collectors and sinners were all crowding around to listen to Jesus. So the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law of Moses started grumbling, 'This man is friendly with sinners. He even eats with them.' Then Jesus told them this story: If any of you has 100 sheep, and one of them gets lost, what will you do? Won't you leave the 99 in the field and go look for the lost sheep until you find it? And when you find it, you will put it on your shoulder and carry it home. Then you will call in your friends and neighbors and say, 'Let's celebrate! I've found my lost sheep.' Jesus said, 'In the same way there is mo...

Friday... Yes, we need them. We really do

Psalm 8:3-4 (NLT), "When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers - the moon and the stars you set in place - what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them?" Friday... Yes, we need them. We really do. No, not the fact that I can go out my front door and look out at night at the marvels of the sky. I can do that and it is amazing and it takes my breath away each time I see it. Yes, that is a fact but the reality of who did that and the wisdom and the faith that I have to believe that and to marvel that the one who did that cares about me makes such a difference in how I live my life. Yes, God really does. That is so wonderful for us to believe. And that is why faith and wisdom are so important. Now whatever belief you have at how that marvel happened must also be believed through faith. And the sad thing to me is that more and more people have been taught that there is no God and therefore he did not have a h...

Monday... Three ifs and two thens. They go together!

Monday... Three ifs and two thens. They go together! They really do. And this is what caught my attention this morning as I was reading Proverbs 2. Verse 1 (NRSVUE) says, "My child, if you accept my words and treasure my commands within you." Verse 3 (NIV), "Indeed i f you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, Verse 4, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, Verse 5, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God." And verses 9-11, " Then you will understand what is right and just and fair - every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you." There will always be some effort we must do, some ifs for the thens to be realized in our lives. So many of us want to understand without the ifs. But the thens are so worth, so very worth the effort. Verses 5-6 in the Ampli...

Todays Beginning

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