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Daily Devotion Archives

May, 2000

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God Is Love

     By Bernie Parsons    May 04, 2000 

And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 1 John 4:16 

Hi, Family and Friends! 

The Bible tells us that God is love. That wonderful fact should move us all to understand that God loves us, and that He wants us to love Him, and to love each other. 

If we love each other, the world becomes a better place. The pain doesn't necessarily go away, but it becomes bearable. Loneliness may not totally vanish, but knowing that we are loved puts it in its place! Poverty and hard times may persist, but love produces sharing, and an easing of the burdens. 

Let the love of God into your heart, then share it with those around you. God bless all! 

Love,

Bernie Parsons

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For Good To Them That Love God

By Bernie Parsons - May 05, 2000

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

The Bible teaches us that God is constantly aware of our condition. Jesus said that God is aware of the number of hairs on our head, and knows every one that we lose (several, in my case!) We are also told that God is aware of our needs before we voice them.

The scriptures also tell us that Jesus sits at the right hand of God, our Mediator, for intercessory pleading.

There are times when we don't know why things happen to us, or those we love. But Paul assures Christians "that all things work together for good to them that love God".

Let us love God, and walk in Him, that all things might work together for our good. God bless all!

Love, in Christ,

Bernie Parsons

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Read of All Men

By Bernie Parsons May 08,2000

Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. 2 Corinthians 3:2-3

Dear Family & Friends--

Paul wrote that people read the teachings of Jesus from our hearts, like reading pages from a book. From this derives the old saying, "You may be the only Bible that some people ever read."

With this in mind, we should each examine what is written on our hearts, in our minds. It should be the teachings and the life of Christ, imprinted upon us for all the world to see.

If there is anything else there, we should let Jesus (the Word) wash it away and replace it with His righteousness.

God bless all!

Love, in Christ,
Bernie

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The Mind of Christ

By Bernie Parsons - May 10, 2000

For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:16

The Apostle Paul wrote that we have the mind of Christ. This is because Jesus revealed His thinking and instructions in the gospel.

We now have those thoughts, deeds and teachings in the book we call the Bible. To have the mind of Christ, we must study the Bible and learn of our Lord. I urge all to study the Bible daily, and learn the mind of Christ.

God bless all!

Love, in Christ,
Bernie

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Let No Man Deceive Himself

By Bernie Parsons - May 11, 2000

Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. 1 Corinthians 3:18-20 KJV

Hello, Family & Friends,

The world encourages us to constantly learn the wisdom of men--their guesses at science, their self-envisioned philosophies, and their ideas of what is important in life.

True wisdom comes from God. Seek the true wisdom that laughs the others to shame. Many of the "learned" in the ways of the world consider us superstitious and uneducated. Instead, we are those who "believe to the saving of the soul". Our faith in the promises of God and the divinity of Jesus, coupled with our obedience to the will of God, will secure our souls' salvation.

And that, my friends, is wisdom that matters!

God bless all!

Love, in Christ,
Bernie

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Save A Soul

By Bernie Parsons - May 12, 2000

Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins. James 5:19-20 KJV

Hello Family & Friends,

We are living in an age when it is not "politically correct" to openly speak about our faith in the Lord Jesus, and our Heavenly Father, God of the universe. The above scriptures indicate that we should be aware of condition of those about us, and should have their best interests at heart. If we can lovingly show someone the error of their ways, and lead them to the Lord Jesus, we can "save a soul from death".

Don't be afraid to point others to the solution to their problems--the Lord Jesus!

God bless all!

Love, in Christ,
Bernie

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Changed Into the Same Image

By Bernie Parsons - May 15, 2000

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:18 KJV

Hello, Family & Friends,

God has been good to us yet another day!

The Apostle Paul wrote that if we will all observe (look at, study) what Jesus is like, we will see His image along with our own reflection, like looking into a mirror and seeing Jesus' image superimposed onto ours. The more we study His image, and adapt to it, the more we look like Him.

That is what being a Christian means--becoming like Christ! The Bible gives us that mirror with the image of Jesus. If we study and observe what it says about Jesus, who He is, what He is like, and what He expects of us, the Holy Spirit will make us as He is.

"Be ye holy, for I am holy, saith the Lord."

Love, in Christ,
Bernie 

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Kind, Tenderhearted, Forgiving

By Bernie Parsons - May 16, 2000

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. Ephesians 4:31-32 KJV

Hello, Family & Friends--

Life is short and full of trouble--right? But wouldn't our world be a better place if there were less hatred, bitterness, and anger? And if there were more kindness, tenderness and forgiveness?

If we will put those bad attitudes and negative mindsets from our lives, and replace them with the spiritual attributes mentioned above, our immediate world would be a better place. Not only that, but the larger world would be better for it.

God bless all!

Love, in Christ,
Bernie

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Forgive Men

By Bernie Parsons - May 18, 2000

 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 6:14-15 KJV

Hello, Family & Friends,

Forgiveness plays such an important role in our lives, yet many of us think little about it.

God's forgiveness allows our sins against Him to be removed from the record. But our being forgiven is contingent upon our forgiving others.

This is such an important concept that I would like to discuss it over several days. In the meantime, "Forgive!"

God bless all!

Love, in Christ,
Bernie

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Ought Against Any

By Bernie Parsons - May 19, 2000

 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses. Mark 11:25-26 KJV

Hello, Family & Friends,

Jesus instructed His followers to forgive as they stood praying. That is, unless our hearts are clean, and we are making a conscious effort to maintain peaceful and harmonious relationships in our lives, there is no reason to petition God on our behalf.

Forgiveness promotes mental, emotional and spiritual healing, so that we may "lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty", as the Apostle Paul wrote.

As the light of the world, the city set on a hill, that cannot be hid, we must make forgiveness an integral part of our lives. How can we show the spirit of Christ to others, if we do not have the spirit of Christ?

God bless all!

Love, in Christ,
Bernie

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Seventy Times Seven

By Bernie Parsons - May 22, 2000

 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. Matthew 18:21-22 KJV

Hello, Family & Friends,

Forgiveness is an extremely important issue in the Christian's (or anyone's) daily life. Without it, there is no real healing of spiritual, mental or emotional wounds.

When I hear someone say, "I will never forgive him (or her) for what they did (or said) to me", I am saddened. I know there is much heartache and trouble ahead for that person.

Only by forgiving can we let go of the hurt, and be whole again. How many times should (or must) we forgive someone who damages us? Jesus said, "Seventy times seven." That is 490 times. I think He was saying, as many times as it takes.

If you have a grudge against someone, forgive them right now. Better yet, contact them and tell them that you forgive them. And let the healing begin.

God bless all!

Love, in Christ,
Bernie

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Confess Your Faults

By Bernie Parsons - May 23, 2000 

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. James 5:16 KJV

 Hello, Family & Friends,

 Confession is not the same as forgiveness, but  works hand-in-glove with it. A crucial part of the forgiving process is confession.  

John wrote in I John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 

Confession means that we are aware of our shortcomings and errors (sins). When a person is strong enough to admit fault, and to ask for forgiveness, healing is promoted.  

If you have hurt someone, admit that you were wrong and ask them to forgive you. This can go a long way toward healing broken relationships. 

God bless all! 

Love, in Christ,

Bernie

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That You Be Not Judged

By Bernie Parsons - May 24, 2000

Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. Matthew 7:1-2 KJV

Hello, Family & Friends,

Along with confession and forgiveness rests the concept of not being overly critical. It is difficult to forgive someone if you have judged them to be undeserving of forgiveness.

Try walking in the other person's shoes before you condemn them. This is not to say that you should condone sin and destructive behavior. But what Jesus is saying is that if you give harsh (strict) judgment, you will be measured by the same standard.

The Apostle Paul said this in Romans 2:21-22 "Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?"

We can forgive more easily once we realize that we could be guilty of the same thing. Should all of us then just continue to sin? No! Paul also wrote in Romans 6:1-2 "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?"

And Jesus told the adulterous woman, John 8:11 "She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more."

So, if you feel like you cannot forgive because the other person is such a terrible sinner, remember this: Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;"

Let's forgive each other! God bless all!

Love, in Christ,
Bernie

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She Loved Much

By Bernie Parsons - May 25, 2000

 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. Luke 7:4 KJV

Hello, Family & Friends,

The Bible is a wonderful book when studied as a whole, and not picked apart to justify a particular doctrine.

Here we find the key to success as Christians. That key is love. If you will go to Luke chapter 7 and read the entire story which prompted this statement of our Lord you will find that love is the motivation for forgiveness.

Sometimes we may feel that we are too much of a sinner, that our sins are too serious to be forgiven. On the contrary, the more sins that we have, the deeper the love that we realize in God, that He forgives such outrageous behavior.

Forgive others, no matter how grievous the sin. This reflects the love of God that is in us. Even forgive those who don't repent of their wrongs.

Luke 23:34 T"hen said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots."

Acts 7:59-60 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep."

Love motivates us, Luke 6:31-33 "And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same."

Let us love one another, and forgive those who have wronged us! Life will be better for us, and for all those with whom we interact daily.

God bless all!

Love, in Christ,
Bernie

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Be the Children of Your Father

By Bernie Parsons - May 26, 2000

 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." John 3:16-18 KJV

 Hello, Family & Friends,

As previously mentioned, love is foundational in our relationship with God. He forgives us, because He loves us. If we are to be like God (godly), then we must love as He loves.

God loves us unconditionally, although we are underserving of such love. This is the kind of charity (love) that the Apostle Paul talks about in I Corinthians 13. Charity is love that is unearned, unmerited, undeserved. It is the same love that we are to show to one another, even to our enemies.

John wrote in I John 4:9-11, "In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another."

This does not mean that we approve of the evil that people do, the sin that they commit, just as God does not approve of their sins. It does mean that we are to show love to all, regardless of their treatment of us, just as God did when He sent Jesus to die for all of us while we were yet sinners.

Romans 5:8 "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

Matthew 5:44-45 "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust."

Let's be our Father's children, and love one another!

God bless all!

Love, in Christ,
Bernie

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