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Daily Inspirational Devotionals
Hard Teachings Preach the word of God … and encourage your people with good teaching. (2 Timothy 4:2) Do some teachings in Scripture bother you as much as they do me? Do you have a hard time dealing with some of the more personal passages in the Bible? Do they step on your toes the way they do mine? Some of the hardest teachings come from Jesus himself, and they have a way of making us all feel uneasy. Here’s a good example: “You have heard that the law of Moses says, ‘Do not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’ But I say, if you are angry with someone, you are subject to judgment!” (Matthew 5:21-22). I can deal with murder being a horrible sin, but just getting angry? We all get angry from time to time, don’t we? Is it really that bad? If anger against a brother is an affront to God, then I’ve insulted him more than a few times. What about this one? “You have heard that the law of Moses says, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust in his eye has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:27-28). Whoa! That can’t be right, can it? Just looking? The same as cheating? Surely Jesus has gone too far with this teaching, don’t you think? Let’s try one more: “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins” (Matthew 6:14-15). We all try to be forgiving, but some people just know how to push our buttons. Surely Jesus will understand if we harbor a little ill will. Won’t he? The teachings of Scripture are not always as easy or comfortable as we’d like. Sometimes being a follower of Christ cuts into your personal agenda more deeply than expected. Sometimes being a Christian takes hard work and discipline and sacrifice. If we want Jesus to save us, we should also be ready for him to change us. Old habits die hard, but they can die. And following Jesus means following his example as well. Even when the teachings are hard ones.
Today’s Reading 2 Timothy 4:1-2 Reflection What are some of the teachings of Jesus that you struggle to obey? Why not pray that he will open your eyes to areas of disobedience?
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The best-selling Left Behind series has captured the attention of millions of readers, and it has changed lives. It has brought millions of believers the motivation to examine their hearts. Are you ready to embrace eternity? Live each moment as if it could be your last? Your future is more important than your past. Where you are going matters more than where you have been. What you do from this day forward means much more than what you have already done. You may be affected by your past, but you are not defined by it. Not in the eyes of God. What does it mean to embrace eternity? It means grasping each breath as if it could be your last, living life moment by precious moment with your feet planted firmly on earth but your heart aimed squarely at heaven. It means learning to embrace the role of dual citizenship—living in one world while belonging to another. It is a lifestyle of living like there’s no tomorrow and then dying so that your real life can finally begin! This 365-day devotional explores the themes introduced in the Left Behind series—themes of salvation, grace, obedience, and faith. New believers as well as mature believers will find a message of faith that will inspire and motivate daily.
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