Archive for the ‘ Carry your cross ’ Category

VerseD: James 1:19

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger

James‬ ‭1:19‬, ‭ESV‬

In such a divided world, let us follow the example of God: listen well, and respond as necessary in wisdom. We don’t need to answer everything, just be faithful to our gracious Lord.

VerseD: Matthew 5:4

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”

Matthew 5:4, ESV

As the saying goes, it’s okay to not be okay. In fact, we must realize our sinfulness and that we have wounded God. Not just wounded, but our sins held Jesus to the cross until He died.

When we mourn our sin and its destructive, killing power and offense to God, then we can find comfort and forgiveness in the resurrected Savior.

VerseD: Acts 20:24

But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

Acts 20:24, ESV

God came as one of us to show what His love, grace, and faithfulness looks like – even to death on a cross for the forgiveness of sins.

Let us live faithfully in Christ’s faithfulness, following His example, to a fallen world.

VerseD: Psalm 34:18

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

Psalm 34:18, ESV

Our God became one of us to show His love and grace is not some abstract, distant sentimentality, but He has experienced the best and worst of humanity.

By His Spirit, He now dwells in us to encourage, strengthen, and save us in and from our sinful, difficult life.

VerseD: John 15:12

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”

John 15:12, ESV

God became a man to show us His love and grace, reminding us of the greatest commandments: Love God and love others.

Now we share His grace by loving His saved and forgiven people, the Church, as well.

VerseD: Romans 10:9

because, 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.

Romans 10:9, ESV

Our God came to us to give us His love, grace, and forgiveness. If we truly believe this and confess Jesus’ death and resurrection, we are granted this salvation from God’s wrath against our sin.

VerseD: Ephesians 3:16

that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being

Ephesians 3:16, ESV

God has offered through His Son all grace, love, and forgiveness of sins, and is thusly worthy of all honor and praise.

God has offered through His Holy Spirit to boldly share that grace, love, and salvation with this world to His glory.

VerseD: 1 Peter 5:6

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you

1 Peter 5:6, ESV

We were made by God, and He has made us to glorify Him and make His love, grace, goodness known. Let us joyfully submit to this call to follow His Son.

VerseD: Romans 8:28

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28, ESV

The most important identity we can have is that we belong to Christ, that we love God.

And God agrees. All of history was designed to glorify Christ and draw us to Him.

VerseD: Ephesians 5:1

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.

Ephesians 5:1, ESV

Is your identity found in Christ? Do people look at you, like the earliest believers, and think of you as a little Christ (Christian)?