“Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”
Ephesians 4:31-32
In the light of God’s incredible love and mercy towards us, demonstrated through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ, we are called to a higher standard of living. Let go of ALL (not just what suits you) bitterness, anger, and judgment. Instead, embrace kindness, compassion, and forgiveness. Just as Christ forgave us completely, let us extend that same grace to others. We are to live a life marked by love, understanding, and reconciliation. Remember, as believers, we are all recipients of God’s boundless mercy and amazing grace (unmerited favor), and it is through our actions that His love shines brightly in this dark world around us.
Bible Reading
The Power of Bible Study: Understanding God’s Word
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
2 Timothy 2:15
Don’t just skim through these passages; take out your Bible, open its pages, and dive deep into the Word of God. It’s not enough to read; we must study and meditate on the verses. The truth is, understanding Scripture requires repeated readings, prayerful reflection, and dedicated study. You don’t need advanced degrees to comprehend God’s message; all you need is a humble heart, a hunger for knowledge, and a willingness to invest time in studying His Word.
As you dig into the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit will illuminate your understanding. With each repetition, new insights will unfold, deeper meanings will surface, and the message of God’s love and truth will penetrate your soul, strengthening your faith which is your shield against the evil one; ‘above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one’ Ephesians 6:16. Embrace the transformative power of studying the Word, for it equips you as a faithful servant, approved by God, who rightly divides the truth.
Galatians 2:20
‘I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.’
Colossians 3:1-11
‘If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.’
II Corinthians 5:14-15,17
‘For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.’
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