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How Serious Should We Take Sin?
Do you know what I think? No, you don’t, so I’ll tell you. I don’t think we talk about sin enough. I don’t think we confess our sins like God wants us to. And I don’t think we really care. Sure, we seek God’s grace-filled forgiveness when we remember, but when we don’t remember, oh well. Better luck next time, I guess. Except when we read Jesus’ words in Mark 9:42-50 “oh well” is just not the tone.
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Is God Actually Faithful Answered by the Christmas Story
To listen to today’s Deeper Devo click HERE. The question of God’s faithfulness runs deep in the heart of man. Whether voiced or not, it looms in households and church pews and disappointed people in this nation and the next. Is God really faithful? It’s the second question we’re taking the time to ponder this busy December. (If you missed the first one, click HERE.) And you know what? I think it can be answered if one would just dare to look in particular at the details of the Christmas story. Peering with eager expectation into the heart of a God willing to invade a world in blatant opposition to…
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Who Are the True Christians?
To listen to today’s Deeper Devo click HERE. Devotional Scripture: Mark 3:22-30 Key Verse: “Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin.” Mark 3:28-29 Did you read the key verse today? If not, go ahead, I’m in no rush. Verse 29 is a doozy. “But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin.” Those are some strong words by Jesus. Words that may embark fear in your heart. Is there a sin that won’t…
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Debunking a Common Christian Misconception
To listen to today’s Deeper Devo click HERE. (Or you can search Deeper Devos on your favorite podcast app.) Devotional Scripture: Mark 2:13-17 Key Verse: “And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” Mark 2:17 There’s a common belief surrounding Christianity that a person needs to clean their act up before they can come to Jesus. For example, a person might think they need to quit smoking or quit cussing or quit drinking or change their lifestyle before they can go to church or try…
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Stop Spreading Mud On Your New Walls
To listen to today’s Deeper Devo click HERE. Devotional Scripture: Ephesians 4:17-24 Key Verse: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 It’s no secret I love HGTV. I mean what’s not to love about a whole house makeover? Taking something ugly and making it beautiful, is the Cinderella story and it gets me every time. (Not that Cinderella was ugly, only her clothes.) So the fact that I’ve flipped one house and am about to start my second has me wondering why Joanna Gaines and I are not best friends. (Hey girl, call…
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The Miracle Story Worth Sharing
To listen to today’s Deeper Devo click HERE. Devotional Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-3 Key Verse: “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked…” Ephesians 2:1-2a I don’t think we should be surprised by the ways of the world today. The lack of respect across the board in just about everything from athletes who won’t stand for the American flag to kids who won’t give their teacher the time of day, saddens me, but doesn’t shock me. Add to that the entitlement attitude taking our country by storm, the ever-present deception of the media, the sex crazed acceptance deeply rooted in our society, and it’s not…
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The Sure Result of Sin
If we think sin has no bearing on our relationship with God, we are wrong. Yet we like to THINK we can freely walk back and forth between darkness and light and it’s all good. I mean there’s grace, right? Devotional Scripture: Exodus 33 Key Verse: “Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; but I will not go up among you, lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people.” Exodus 33:3 So why not hang out with those friends that bring me down? Why not watch that show I’m sure doesn’t please the LORD? Why not dabble in some idolatry? After all,…
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So How Serious Is God About His Word?
If you’ve been a part of the church for any length of time, you probably know the story of the golden calf. Moses is up on the mountain but takes forever (according to the people). So, the people tell Aaron to “make us gods who shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him” (32:1). Devotional Scripture: Exodus 32 Key Verse: “They made a calf in Horeb and worshiped a metal image. They exchanged the glory of God for the image of an ox that eats grass. They forgot God,…
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The Inefficient Excuse of a Dark Past
One thing I love about living in the country is the dark nights. There are no streetlights illuminating my bedroom. Only the red numbers on my clock and a small sliver of nightlight squeezing through the cracked door of my kids bathroom, wrapping the corner towards mine. So the other night when I awoke in the three A.M. range to the sound of wind and rain, you can imagine my surprise when I could see no red numbers, and no sliver of nightlight. Devotional Scripture: Genesis 38 Key Verse: “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.” Ephesians…
