January 22, 2019

My Devotion

My Heart

Transformed

Teresa Jenkins

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 2Corinthians 5:17

Transform: verb, make a thorough or dramatic change in the form, appearance or character.

Being created in the womb is like the born again transformation.  The seed entered the egg, for nine months a tiny embryo transforms into a baby, what started out unnoticeable and for weeks sometimes longer no one noticed.  Then at the appointed time the baby is born, and transformation continues.  We don’t reenter our mother’s womb, but we do go through growing pains.  If anyone accepts Christ, he/she is a new creation. 

It took me years to stop expecting the new creation of me to be like God creating the world in six days.  It’s a slow work in progress and sometimes it hurts like pulling a tooth without sedation.  I don’t know about you, but I avoid pain if at all possible which results in frustration when I don’t at all feel like a new creation at all sometimes. 

Transformation takes time, it takes change, and it takes work.  The old person has gone, no longer lost and is a new creation in Christ, but old habits, thoughts, and feelings are hard to get rid of.  They are weaved in like needlepoint threads crossing each other so intricately they knot together making it impossible to take out.  I’ve created a few needlepoint projects and no matter how careful you are when you mess up, but don’t notice it until a few rows later, you might as well get out the scissors and cut out all the thread until you get to the error you made.  No salvaging all that thread to use again, and the chance that the thread store has the exact same color you started with aren’t very good.

The new has come!  Now what? Work.  We stop the process of God’s work in us all the time. The way we think, behave, speak, everything about us has deep roots of a lifetime of doing nothing, like a beautiful garden gets swallows up in weeds, vines, and ugliness when it’s not cared for over a long period of time. 

I wonder if that is why God called His people of the Old Testament, stiff-necked. God took care of them at every turn, but so many times His plan had to wait for them because they didn’t like the new way, they wanted what they complained about for generations in Egypt.  How could they?  God’s way was much better.  We are just like them.  They didn’t understand what God was doing, where they were going, or what He had promised them even looked like.  Neither do we, that’s the reason, we live by faith not by sight.  Some of what is to come won’t be easy and if we knew what that was, would we follow?

Transformation is hard work, in order to be who God created us to be requires us to abandon what we know, how we were before Christ and become like Him in every way possible.  That means self has to be crucified.  Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Galatians 5:24

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.  The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:20

So now, the work to stop with the old and live in the new…Be transformed.  It’s all in the mind, changing the way we think, get rid of the thoughts that play on automatic replay, a total cleaning of old thoughts and habits and embracing the new, the mind of Christ. Jesus did His part He died on the cross, was resurrected, and reigns at the right hand of the Father.  Romans 12:2 is all about what we must do to crucify self every day.  It won’t be easy, but all things are possible now to those who believe.

The pattern of this world is all about self, the total opposite of Christ who gave Himself for all, and now that we have accepted Him, not only are we His, but His power resides in us and we have no excuse not to be transformed.  Change the way you think, it changes the way you are, the way you live, and the less of you and the more of Christ comes through.

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.  Romans 12:2

In HIS Time

Teresa

January 20, 2019

My Devotion

My Heart

Pray, and then Keep Praying

Teresa Jenkins

Jesus told His disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.  Luke 18:1

The parable:  In a certain town there was a judge who did not fear God, or cared about men and a widow in that town who kept coming to him with a plea “Grant me justice against my adversary.”  For a long time he refused to help her, but finally he thought, “Even though I don’t fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see she gets justice so she won’t wear me out with her coming.”  Then the unjust judge said, “Will not God bring about justice for His chosen ones, who cry out to Him day and night?  Will He keep putting them off?  I tell you, He will see that they get justice quickly.” (Luke 18:2-8)

I believe in prayer, I’ve seen it work, I’ve seen God answer prayers, but I confess I have not always understood prayer (and in some ways still don’t).  I’ve been intimidated when it comes to prayer, not sure how to pray, not sure what to ask God for, not sure what to say.  I would evaluate my requests, before I prayed checking for validity in my request, “is what I’m asking for the right thing to ask for?”.  Then there was the other side, believing God would hear or even answer my prayer.  It was so hard to fight off doubt.  Those of us with a pessimist nature, believe and practice, if I don’t get my hopes up I won’t be as disappointed and if the request is granted, then “Hurray!  All is great!”  It’s a never ending cycle that almost every time, silenced me from praying at all. 

Prayer is a very important part of Christianity.  It is a privilege, because it is our direct communication with God.  Jesus all through His ministry modeled prayer, taught His disciples about prayer, and left them instructions to pray about everything.  Mark 9 tells about the time the disciples could not drive out a spirit that made the boy deaf and mute since childhood.  Jesus rebuked the “deaf and mute spirit” and commanded it to come out of him never to enter again.  Later when Jesus had gone indoors, His disciples ask why they couldn’t drive it out.  Jesus replied, “This kind can only come out by prayer.”

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  Philippians 4:4  One of my favorite verses on prayer.  Take away all your questions, your doubts, your fears about praying and just talk to God, turn to Him when you wake up, speak to Him, all day whisper, thanks, help, and peace.  God knows your heart and if there is any unclean thing there, He will wash it away, when we ask for His forgiveness, He is faithful and just to forgive and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  As children of God we have a deep desire to be good, to do good, and God’s grace and mercy helps us where we are weak, it’s in those quiet moments when we come to Him in prayer, pouring out our all our pain, fears, and struggles to Him, He takes them and in HIS time works them all out for good and to His glory.  It is our lives that we reflect His glory through His answers to our prayers.  Those impossible moments in our lives that we literally think we aren’t going to make it through, the anxiety and weight of our situation is going to be the end of us, and then God, when it seemed like it was just in time was actually right on time, answered our prayer exactly as it should have been answered, and even better than we even imagined.

I challenged myself to pray more, not those canned prayers, first say this, then that and then finish, amen.  I’m still working on it and making progress, and pressing on toward the goal:  Be joyful always; pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. …May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through.  May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  The one who calls you is faithful and He will do it.  1Thessalonians 5:16-18, 23-24

In the most recent (still ongoing) situation, I surrendered to praying, following Jesus’ teaching on how to pray, acknowledging who God is, my Father in Heaven, Hallowed be Your name, Thy will be done…thanking Him for what He would do, all the while knowing it wasn’t going to be easy to watch or endure, but knowing as well the outcome would be good.  From the beginning my prayers started going up with “Thy will be done,” God began to move and I could see His movement.  There was no doubt it was God.  God worked on two people through this situation, the one I prayed for and me.    

Go on, pray, and then keep praying. God is for you. He is a good, good Father.

Prayer Continues

My Devotion

My Heart

Prayer Continues

Teresa Jenkins

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.  1Thessalonians 5:16-18

Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again: Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your heart and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Finally, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or worthy of praise—think about such things.  Whatever you have learned from or received or heard from me, or seen in my—put it into practice.  And the God of peace will be with you.  Philippians 4:4-9

Surviving the fire of disappointment, hurt, and bad circumstances, calls for great joy and celebration.  I would like to say that my faith never waivers through the storms, that I am always joyful in trials that come my way. I fall short in the instructions above.  I made it through, prayers were answered, signs of change are appearing dimly at this moment, but God proves His faithfulness once more.  For days and weeks I went through the unknown with only my weak faith to hold on to.  The size of a mustard seed is all I had, packed with all that God has brought me through my whole life.

Be full of joy: When times are hard and the unknown is looming like a cloud over you joyful is non-existent with maybe a little here or there.  That’s when we fight the fear, the anxiety, the doubt and bring to mind thoughts worthy of thinking about, and doing what you know to do.  Think about all the times God has already brought you through, even in those times we barely acknowledge Him.  He was always there working things out for our good, bringing the things into our life to fulfill the plan He has for us.  What about the times we never even knew what He was doing?  Those are the thoughts we begin with, those are the things that helps our joy to grow.

Pray all the time for all things:  Good times or bad times, pray.  When life is going relatively smoothly or even great pray giving thanks.  When the battle is on; pray giving thanks.  Present your requests to God.  With prayer and petition present your need.  Petition, that one always confused me, petition is a request signed by as many people as possible to bring about change or grant any kind of need.  Paul is teaching us here to get other believers, to pray about your need or problem, to agree with us in prayer. “Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.  For where two or three come together in my name, there I am with them.” Matthew 18:19-20  Which I did, and so many of the people I asked to pray, could empathize because they had been where I am and that gave me peace more than I knew possible.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.  2Corinthians 1:3-4

Though I have been on an emotional roller coaster ride at the end of 2018, this time was different.  Every day tears would wail up and flow down my cheeks not because I didn’t believe, but because my heart hurt so badly for the circumstance I was in.  Even in the tears I felt the peace that passes understanding always with me.  Waking up from a bad dream my first words were “no bad thing.”  My broken heart knew God was with me and right in the middle of the problem working all things together.  I put it all in God’s hands and tearfully let go not knowing the outcome.  God is still at work, and I prayerfully follow His lead, giving thanks for the gifts and blessings I do not even know what they are yet.

God has taught me so much through this most recent trial, all of which He’s tried to teach me before, finally I took that step in faith to learn it.  We don’t have to have God prove His love to us, if He never did anything more than Jesus, that is enough, but God lavishes His love on us every single day. 

I’ve learned how to pray for God’s will, not my will and things turn out so much better than I can imagine. (Ephesians 3:20) I’ve learned to walk in the dark room and let Him lead me out.  (2Corinthians 5:7) I’ve learned that even through the tears there is joy and the benefit to Rejoice in the Lord always. (Psalm 30:5b)  It’s ok, no matter how big or small the need, God wants to be the solution. (Phil. 4:6)  I’ve also learned that the joy of the Lord is my strength.  (Nehemiah 8:10)

God’s life for us is abundant and no matter the season, no matter the trial, no matter the goodness we experience, God’s love and faithfulness to us never ends, but abounds more and more.  With God all things are possible.  Give thanks and praise for what He has done and what He is going to do, then testify so that all may know the gift through Jesus.

In HIS Time
Teresa

Peace that Overrides Understanding

My Devotion

My Heart

Peace that Overrides Understanding

Teresa Jenkins

Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again: Rejoice! …Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcend all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:4, 6-7

There is a peace that goes beyond my understanding that pushed though all my anxiety yesterday.  As hard as the decision was to make, my help, whatever, I could possibly do is inadequate to God’s power, mercy, grace will do in the circumstance I am enduring. I cannot fix this circumstance, I cannot make it better.

The determining factor to peace is release.  As I prayed, in my broken heart and through my anxiety God’s peace gently flowed through me.  God did not give me an itemized itinerary to His plan of action, but I heard Him say, “I’ve got this, do not be anxious I have heard your cries and I will restore.”  Oh the overpowering love that takes hold of you when you surrender.

Anxiety will literally crush you and keep you defeated.  Anxiety defined, an unpleasant state of mental uneasiness, nervousness, apprehension and obsession or concern about some uncertain event.  Now if you can just think of all the hazards to your health that anxiety causes and at the same time does not solve the problem, or circumstance you are going through.  Have you noticed that Anxiety is a prevalent issue in health?  It takes over your whole being, life, and everything you do. I suffer anxiety silently, it’s always smoldering just under the surface and when something does arise that I know I cannot do anything about, it will escalate to points of physical pain and illness.  My mind obsesses over every detail that I know I cannot change or do anything about, but the Bible tells me something different, I can do something.

Philippians 4:4-9 is God’s assignment in every kind of trouble.  He first says Rejoice in the Lord always.  Be gentle.  Do not be anxious.  In everything by prayer and petition (write it down, share it with your prayer partners, getting others to pray according to His will with you) with thanksgiving give your requests to God, make your presentation to your Father who in heaven.  Then here is what God will do for you, His peace that is over all your understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  The mind of Christ will take over and with every anxious thought that tries to push you back will be held captive in the power and might of God.  Thoughts of whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, anything that is excellent or praiseworthy will fill your thoughts.  Think on them, put them into practice and the God of peace will be with you.

I have done that and when my heart feels anxious, He reminds me, “I’ve got this.”  All you have to do is Rejoice, the good news will arrive right on time.  We don’t have to know how God will do what He will do, or the details of His plan, that is not our concern.  Our part is only to trust, praise, worship, and rejoice in the victory that is at hand.  Even if the victory does not look like anything we wish for, God always works everything out for the good to we, who love Him and we have been called according to His purpose.  Giving God the glory for He is worthy.

Don’t be anxious, Peace that overrides understanding is within reach, it’s in His hand of mercy reaching out, it’s all good, take His hand, He will because He already has.  Remember God is already there.  Dwell in the shelter of the Most High and you will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

In All Circumstances, Really?

My Devotion

My Heart

In All Circumstances, Really?

Teresa Jenkins

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.  1Thessalonians 5:16-18

Life is full of it, trouble on every corner, every step of the way, bad is lurking its ugly head.  We are not in Eden any more, Satan stole our heaven on earth with a lie.  Since that time we have struggled with sin and with the result of sin.  Not one person is immune from it, we commit sin, we are affected by sin, and the guilt of sin is on our hands.

But there is freedom through the blood of Jesus Christ and it is our personal choice to claim that freedom.  It’s an individual choice.  No one can make it for you, no one can force that choice on you.  Be prepared whatever choice you make there will be a result.  I have made some really bad decisions in my life that still haunt me to this day.

I am a mother with a broken heart, as hard as I tried all those years raising 4 boys alone, they grow up and you pray that something you taught them about Jesus sticks.  It’s that choice thing.  One of my sons has made some very bad choices and he sits in jail far away from me and I cannot fix this problem for him, his own choices have put him where he is.  And God’s Word tells me to give thanks in this circumstance for this is God’s will.

It’s not God’s will that my son made the choices he’s made, but I know that giving thanks to God is the act of faith on my part that He is at work.  He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.  Colossians 1:17   He is before everything, He was already there before it ever happened.  All God ever did was love us, and when we rebelled—implement a plan—to rescue us.  He will leave the 99 to rescue one who has gotten lost.  As much as I love my son and it breaks my heart at what he has done and is going through, God loves Him even more, there is no mountain He won’t destroy, no depth He will not enter to save us.  At Jesus’ death he entered hell and took back the keys and shook them in Satan’s face, he could not hold Jesus in the grave and through His resurrection we have hope.

Give thanks in all circumstances is not a punishment, it is an act of submission and trusting God’s process.  The days, weeks, and maybe years will be difficult until that lost one surrenders, but oh the joy and the testimony he will have because through this circumstance he will have no doubt that God is real, that God loves him, and that God saved him from his own destructive devices.

In this world we will have trouble, but take heart, be courageous, and thank God for His faithfulness and enduring love.  He promises that He will never leave us or forsake us, take Him at His word.  He knew whatever you and I are going through before it ever happened, our part is surrender with thanksgiving for all circumstances.  What is there to be thankful for in the really bad circumstances? It is one more opportunity for God to receive glory for what only He can do.  Trust the process that He has already put into place, God is relentless in demonstrating His love for all. 

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.  Hebrews 11:1  He who created everything by speaking it into being has all our circumstances under control.  Be thankful.

My Devotion

My Heart

What’s worse?

Teresa Jenkins

And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there.  I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.  However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.  Acts 22:22-24

What is worse? Knowing what is going to happen, or not knowing?  In either good or bad situations some think if I could just know the outcome I can endure anything.  Paul didn’t know exactly what was going to happen to him, but he knew it wasn’t going to be good, because he was almost single handedly spreading the gospel of Christ, through his mission trips, through his writing and encouragement of the saints who have already accepted his message.  He was a threat to the very way of life he used to defend.  He was powerful as an enemy of God and after his conversion he was even more powerful as a messenger for Christ.  He was an educated man who knew the law and understood the meaning of grace and mercy.  Yet everywhere he went he faced danger.  What kept him going?  He knew God’s grace was more powerful than living by the law.  He knew the mystery, the secret.  My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ, in who are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.  Colossians 2:2-4

We all go through things that even in the middle of the situation we don’t know from one day to the next what is going to happen, conflict in relationships, conflict at work, sickness, financial struggles and the list goes on.  Letting go of what we cannot control will consume us in one way or another.  For me when struggles come that I don’t have a clear solution to or have to wait it out, I get ill, headaches, heartburn, upset stomach, aches and pains, either one or all depending on how much I dwell on what is absolutely out of my control.  If it directly affects me or someone I love and I am powerless to make changes the worries really eat at me.

Struggles, hardships, and failures happen for many reasons, lack of faith, disobedience, rebellion, or testing.  The number one reason most people think they are having troubles is because they have been told their faith is not big enough. More times than not that is not true, Jesus said all we need is a mustard seed size of faith and we can move mountains.  Disobedience, doing things our way and not God’s way is a very good way to experience trouble and conflict.  Testing, 1, 2, 3…Test this is only a test.  How many times do we face the same struggles over and over?  If you keep doing the same thing you’ve always done you keep getting what you always got.  Many struggles happen because we just don’t get that concept.  Make a bad choice get a bad consequence.  Struggles can also be the best way to test the faith you do have.  God will allow struggles to show us how much we will trust Him and depend on Him to help us through.  It’s all a process.  Sometimes we must keep going through the same process until one day the light comes on and we say “OHHH ok, this would work better if only I would do this instead of that.”  We are a stiff necked people, stubborn and strong willed.

Sometimes the struggles we face are training for the next level, the purpose for which we were created.  An athlete never becomes great without endurance training, practice, and trials in his/her sport.  We cannot run our race effectively unless we go through some endurance training, if the little things trip us up and make us fall, we’ll never get over the bigger hurdles around the corner and for those who come behind us may see the power of God at work in our lives my press on in their own race and purpose, for seeing others overcome encourages and gives strength to the weaker younger believers.

Knowing what is going to happen is not as important as knowing that God is in control and will provide all wisdom and strength needed for any task that is put before you and me.  Without God we can do nothing, but with God all things are possible not to just endure but to be more than conqueror through Him who loves and gave His only Son that we might live.  Knowing this one thing makes all the struggles worth the gain.  And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.  Romans 8:28 and Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.  Philippians 1:6  God will never allow more than we can handle with His help.  So don’t worry about knowing it all, just know the One who knows the ending.  Trust His heart He loves you more than all His creation.  If He brings you to it, He will bring you through it.

It's YOUR Kindness

My Devotion

My Heart

It’s YOUR Kindness

Teresa Jenkins

Your, therefore have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.  Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth.  So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment?  Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? Romans 2:1-4

It appears that the culture we are living in is becoming more and more judgmental.  The national focus is on if you don’t agree with someone you’re judged as a bigot, a racist, and even more radical is a homophobe. This is understandable behavior of those without Christ, but for those of us who claim Christ as our Lord and Savior it is ultimately forbidden.  Jesus said in reference to Matthew 7:1 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.”  Luke 6:37 says, “Do not judge, and you will not be judged.  Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned.  Forgive and you will be forgiven.”

Paul states it clearly that we as mere human beings do not have the capacity of understanding to pass any kind of impartial judgment and that if we do we too will be judged and I believe even more severely.  Yet we judge every single day.  When we voice our opinion of someone, when we look “down our nose” at someone who is “different” than we are, and especially when we have been wronged, abused, or hurt by someone.  I believe judging is a huge part of our sinful nature and one that goes unchecked, unconfessed, and unchanged.  God tells us to discern what is good or evil and to do good, to love our enemies and to treat those who mistreat us with kindness and love.

I have been under conviction for the act of judgment of my own.  Jesus told His followers that the second greatest commandment is to love one another.  He did not place specifics such as love others that are just like you, believe like you, look like you, dress like you, think like you, etc. Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it:  Love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:37-39 

What if your neighbor is your enemy?  To attempt to answer this question, let’s define two nouns, ‘neighbor’ and ‘enemy’.   Is neighbor that person who lives next door?  Literally the answer is yes, but neighbor is figuratively anyone you and I come in contact with, friends, acquaintances, co-workers, family, people you go to church with, even those people we pass on any given day that we may never see again. An enemy is a person who is actively opposed or hostile to someone or something.  While enemies can become hostile pretty quickly for this thought process I want to focus on the ‘opposed’.  As Christians we face opposition all around us.  Jesus said that because of Him we will face opposition, we will face persecution.  So why are we so surprised when it happens?  What’s worse why are we so unprepared that we immediately go into combative judgmental mode instead of love and treating the opposition with kindness? 

Unfortunately for some it takes a sin or opposition to hit close to home before we understand what Jesus taught us that the only way to lead others to the truth is with love and kindness.  This will take patience, because love and kindness will be challenged by the behavior of the opposition.  To tell someone off is an immediate reactive solution, it may make us feel good at the time, but it does not lead that opposition to Jesus.  It’s an egotistical move that glorifies self not God.  Jesus, throughout His life and death had one goal in which He met and that was to bring glory to God, by making a way for anyone to be reconciled to God.

I confess that I am consistently guilty of this sin of judgment and combative nature to prove my agenda, but when I look closely at the Word, such as Romans 2, I was not called to judge and am reminded that I will be judged for all my sin, now that I am a Christian, it will be the sins of my words and deeds, what I have done or not done for the cause of Christ.  Because of Jesus I will not face the sin of death, but He will ask me what did I do for Him. Do I love with a pure heart?  Do I give with a pure heart?  Do I live a life in my attitude, actions, and thoughts that is pleasing to God the Father? 

Matthew 7 goes on to say this about judging… “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?” Matthew 7:3  This means we can’t judge or even help someone else until we first look at what we do and stop what we do wrong.  Get the obstacle of whatever sin is in our own life out so that we can in love and empathy help others to do the same.  Jesus is the only sinless man who ever lived.  So why do we think just because we are “Christians” we have any right to judge others.  Sin is sin and Christ died for all sin so that we might live.

Others will only come to that knowledge by how they see you and I live.  Father, forgive me for my sin of arrogance and ignorance that has driven me to judgment.  Let us walk in love and forgiveness with each other and especially to those who may oppose us.  Help us remember that it is Your kindness manifested through us, the body of Christ, that leads to repentance.

In HIS Time

Teresa

My Devotion, My Heart by Teresa Preston | ISBN # 978-1-61566-460-3

http://mydevotionmyheart.blogspot.com