If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness! — Matthew 6:23

 Jesus made an apparently incongruous claim in the narrative for today. He referred to light as dark. I think the easiest way to comprehend His remarks is to contrast two different types of light.

In Matthew 6, Jesus warned those He was speaking to against pursuing wealth and urged them to store up their treasures in heaven. Then He used the metaphor of "the lamp of the body," the eye, to explain His point. If we keep our attention on spiritual matters, we will be radiant. However, if we pursue material wealth, we will fill with a dim light that He compared to tremendous darkness.

In certain ways, money can make our lives better, but it can't mend broken hearts, erase guilt, or provide inner peace. Our innermost spiritual desires cannot be satisfied because of how faint it is.

The light of salvation can only be shone onto the soul through Christ. Live our lives for His approval. Any less light leaves us in the dark.

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How do we define light?

What are the two meanings of light?

What is light in lighting?

What is so special about light?

Why do humans like light?

What are 5 interesting facts about light?

What is light made of?

How long can light exist?

What cool things can light do?

Can anything live without light?

What powers a light?

What brings us light?

Let the peace of God rule in your hearts, . . . and be thankful. — Colossians 3:15

 Despite never having visited the Colosse church, the apostle Paul was well-informed about it according to Epaphras. He fervently prayed for this community since he was aware that it was being persecuted by false professors (1:9–14; 2:4–7). 

Paul made a number of requests, including that they would joyfully praise the Father for saving them and transferring them from the dominion of darkness to the kingdom of His beloved Son (1:12–13). We must all express gratitude for what Christ has accomplished for us. 

Let's regularly remember how God delivered us from eternitiel death and gave us eternitiel life via His Son. Let's make sure that we never allow the art of giving thanks to the Father to disappear.

Anyone can learn the art of gratitude with enough practice. Lord, give me a sense of gratitude for all the benefits I have received, blessings that come to me every day like dewdrops from above.  

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What is another word for thankfulness?

What is the difference between thankfulness and gratitude?

Are gratitude and thankfulness are synonyms?

Can you say gratitude and thanks?

How do you show gratitude without saying thank you?

What is the best way to express gratitude?

How do you formally say gratitude?

How do you express thankfulness in an email?

When he was in affliction, he . . . humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. — 2 Chronicles 33:12

 This chaplain has witnessed God do miracles with hardened folks, just as God gave Manasseh a fresh start when he repented (2 Chron. 33:12–13).

Don't give up if your life is in chaos. You can start over by having faith and repentance. "It's not too late to start over as long as there is still a spark." You can always have a new beginning with God.

Lord, we thank You that we can start over when we fail.

If we humbly own our sin, we will turn and follow You.  

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What does a fresh start mean?

What does heres to a fresh start mean?

How do I make a fresh start?

Is it good to have a fresh start?

What is the psychology of a fresh start?

How do I start my life over at 30?

Is 36 too old to start over?

Is 32 too old to start over?

Is 35 too late to start over?

Are we old at 35?

Is 40 too old to start?

Is 36 considered late 30s?

Whoever hates his brother is a murderer. — 1 John 3:15

 Such complete loathing did not arise overnight. It required a lot of time to grow. We shouldn't ever allow hatred to grow in our minds as a result. By taking Paul's advice to heart, "Do not let the sun go down on your wrath" (Eph. 4:26), we would all be doing ourselves a lot of good. James also provided us with sound advice when he said, "Be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God" (1:19–20). 

Remember that according to 1 John 3:15, "whoever hates his brother is a murderer." Thus, how crucial it is to never cultivate hatred's bitter fruit!

Like acid, hate ruins both the thing it is spilled on and the container it is stored in. Don't allow time fuel bitterness because when anger is left unchecked, it will grow into hatred. Forgiveness cannot wait. 

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What does feel hatred mean?

Is hate a feeling or emotion?

How to get rid of hatred?

What is the philosophy of hatred?

What is the root cause of hate?

Is hatred a learned emotion?

What emotion is stronger than hate?

What causes someone to be hateful?

Why is hate such a powerful emotion?

What does hate do to the brain?

Who is stronger love or hate?

Is hate stronger than anger?

I will teach you the fear of the Lord. — Psalm 34:11

 When the psalmist penned, "Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good," and then exhorted God's people to fear Him (Ps. 34:8–9), he was aware of this magnificent wonder. We must live before Him with reverence and awe, not by shivering in horror. While not "safe," our holy God is good nonetheless.

Nothing else needs to be feared if you only fear God. Oh, how I worship Thee, Living God, with quivering hope and contrite tears, and how I fear Thee with the deepest, most tender fears! 

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What does it mean to fear God?

Why does the Bible say to fear God?

What is fear God in the Bible?

What does God say to fear?

Who gives the spirit of fear?

How to overcome fear?

What causes fear?

Why do I fear so much?

How to overcome fear and anxiety spiritually?

Can God remove anxiety?

Why God tells us not to fear?

How do I let God take my anxiety?

Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? — Romans 6:1

 Although it may be a common practice during Lent, I don't believe that self-denial was what Jesus had in mind when He advised picking up one's cross and following Him (Matthew 16:24). He urged self-denial in the form of a daily dedication to Him in all facets of life. 

Paul knew when he wrote to the church in Rome that people would think it didn't matter to God if they weren't completely devoted to His Son. He was aware that some people might view it as acceptable to continue sinning while relying on God's grace. 

Paul thought it absurd for persons of faith to believe they might "continue in sin" in order to benefit more from God's grace. Instead, he said we should see ourselves as having died to sin (Rom. 6:11).

As followers of Jesus, we must do so obediently each day. It's never appropriate to break our commitment to Him.

Believing in and obeying Christ are both prerequisites for following Him. I desire to serve the Lord completely, putting my life to the test and His judgment to the test. Every hour is a gift from the merciful Giver, and every day I make a commitment to offer my all to Christ.  

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What is the meaning of self-denial?

What is an example of self-denial?

Why am I in self-denial?

What is the attitude of self-denial?

How do you heal self-denial?

What is the psychology of self-denial?

What are the dangers of self-denial?

Is denial a coping mechanism?

Is being in denial a coping mechanism?

Is denial a trauma response?

Is denial a stage of depression?

Is denial a symptom of PTSD?

Do not marvel that I said to you, “You must be born again." — John 3:7

 No matter how ingrained we may be in this world, God may empower any and all of us to change. When we react favorably to even the smallest stirring of grace in our spirits, the wonder of the new birth can occur.

The Savior is standing by to deliver you and remove every trace of sin; salvation is a process of change rather than reformation.

You can today become a new creature via faith and experience total forgiveness!  

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What does the Bible say about a changed life?

What is change in life?

What is the power of a changed life?

How can I change my life totally?

How do I start living again?

What are the 7 steps in changing your life?

How to be a new person?

How do I start changing myself?

How can I change my life in 2 weeks?

How can I improve my life in 30 days?

How to transform yourself in 10 days?

Is it too late to change lifestyle?

The Lord avenges and is furious. . . . The Lord is good, . . . and He knows those who trust in Him. — Nahum 1:2,7

 Personally, I would find it difficult to believe in a God that never loses patience and does not punish sin. A god like that would not be a good one. What would you think, for instance, of a witness to a horrific murder who showed no emotion and showed no interest in seeing the offender punished? Would you judge such a person to be morally upright? Hardly!  God grants us free will and frequently allows us to follow through on our poor decisions. But He holds us responsible, and He will pass judgment on us. The Ninevites were a terrible race that carried out unspeakable atrocities in Nahum's day. However, the prophet reassured the Israelites that God had seen their wrongdoing, was offended by it, and would punish them fairly.  I'm grateful that God has that level of moral rectitude. It gives me cause to believe that He will honor all of His commitments, and it gives me confidence that He will make up for all the wrongs of the past. Even while God's wrath won't come right away, it will eventually. Don't be deceived, God's eyes aren't closed; He'll judge us all at some point, even though it sometimes looks that sin is ignored and evil has the upper hand.   ======================================================================= What does it mean to be punished by God?What are gods punishments for sins?What is an example of God's wrath?Where in the Bible does it say God discipline us?What does God's discipline mean?What is God's discipline in Hebrews 12?What does Scripture say about discipline?What is Psalm 94 12 13?What does Hebrews 12 5 8 mean?What does Hebrews say about discipline?What does Hebrews 12 18 24 say?What is the meaning of Hebrews 12 15?
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These all died in faith, not having received the promises. — Hebrews 11:13

 According to the verse in Hebrews 11:11, "by faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive." The Lord, however, said, "My grace is sufficient for you" (2 Cor. 12:9) in response to the apostle Paul's prayer that his unnamed "thorn in the flesh" be removed, and the "thorn" persisted. Even Christ pleaded with His heavenly Father to spare Him the pain of Calvary, but He also said, "Nevertheless, not my will, but Yours, be done" (Luke 22:42).  Our faith is in You, Lord, whether or not Your answer to our fervent prayers and deepest longings comes. Please make it our goal to seek Your will above all else. Amen.God always has a positive explanation for any negative response. I prayed, with a long-delayed response.brought nothing that I was looking for, but He responded better to my request than I could have imagined.   ======================================================================= Which God to pray to get pregnant?How do you pray to conceive a baby?Can you pray to God for a baby?Is there a prayer for fertility?What Psalm is for getting pregnant?Is fertility a gift from God?Is infertility God's will?What God promises about fertility?What does God say about having a baby?What does the Bible say about praying for a baby?Can God bring to birth?Where in the Bible does it talk about having kids?
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I will delight myself in Your commandments, which I love. — Psalm 119:47

 Do we hold God's Word in the same regard? How frequently do we even move across the room to pick up and read the Bible?  Lord, please enable us to value Your Word.  Hold fast to the Bible—this priceless treasure. rescues the fallen man and brings life forever; many people put the Bible on a shelf rather than in their heart. Seek its blessing, O soul, while you can. Its worth is undoubtedly above the comprehension of mortals.   =======================================================================  Which Bible is the first Bible? Which Bible is the one to read? What year was Jesus born? What is Catholic Bible called? Do Christians and Catholics read the same Bible? Do Catholics use the King James Bible? Why do Catholics have a different Bible? How do you know if a Bible is Catholic? What are the 7 extra books in the Catholic Bible? Why do Catholics pray to Mary? Is purgatory in the Bible? Why do Catholics pray to saints?
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