Use today to pray, rest, and reflect on this week’s reading, giving thanks for the grace that is ours in Christ.
We love because he first loved us.
—1 John 4:19
[x]
Leave a Reply
41 thoughts on "Grace Day"
Ladies I know you feel discouraged I have been asked to make 400 masks for hospice, the elastic didn’t arrive, so I chose ribbon now my machine broke yesterday and so did my best friends if I can fix it I can use it, I only have 60 made.
So I have taken a deep breath, walked away and now am asking Him for a clear mind, patience with myself and direction and fill the void of not seeing my family. This’ I am sure sounds so immature compared to your problems, but I smile as I know God hears all our confusion and pain and the sun is shining!
I am going outside to pray for each of you and your struggles.
Beth, I worked for Hospice 10 years and am thanking GOD for you and your help. I made masks for my family and used old lanyards from conferences attended. No sewing machine but pockets of old scrubs were just the right size. I continue praying! Loving you and your ministry. Jeannie
Bernadette, when I don’t understand, I try to go back to the Word and search for an answer. Ephesians 6:12 says “ For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
Essentially there is a spiritual battle for our hearts and minds. People who behave evilly are in the grip of lies and manipulation from evil spiritual forces. We can hate their actions, but we should not write someone off – we are all made in His image and all souls are redeemable by His power.
Easier said than done right? I’ve taken to praying directly for my enemies. The first few times are so hard, but slowly the hate dissipates into pity.
We were not made to hate. We were bought with a price even we were his enemies (Romans 5:10) and didn’t know we needed saving. And now He calls us to love even when it seems impossible.
For me this is a tangible way we can show how Christianity is “different” – it might not make sense to the world but we are free from the bondage of hate and our own judgements against the world.
Sorry, can’t type. I know God hardened certain peoples hearts, and there are truly evil people in the world. I don’t know if I can not hate them. So where do you turn to help you understand?
God does not harden anyone’s heart.. sin comes from the devil. Love them because they know not what they do. PRAY. Pray for strength to love them. It takes much more strength to love than to hate. And how blessed are we that our strength comes from the Lord!
It is the goodness of God that leads men to repentance.
If someone is bent on being the ruler of their own life and creating god in their own image or being god, the hardening of their heart is a device of their own doing.
If we understand who pharaoh believed himself to be, god and ruler of creation, the incarnate god on earth, Moses’ words would be an affront to that belief.
Moses was coming to pharaoh and saying hey, we want to go worship God and you are not God. In order for pharaoh to agree, he would ultimately be abdicating his position on earth and admitting there is a power higher than himself.
When we observe the story of Moses and pharaoh through that lens, we understand why pharaohs heart was hardened, because he did not want to give up his position to another, not even to God. Pharaohs heart was already hardened or headed in that direction.
Pharaoh let the Israelites leave after losing his precious child, and there could have been redemption for pharaoh, but he instead decided to take revenge on God’s people and we know how that ended up for the rider, he got thrown into the sea.
Most of the people we meet are not pharaoh, they are just living out their fallen nature. They are going to make choices they cannot control because they are in a fallen state. We cannot expect someone who is not redeemed to behave as if they were redeemed.
But God,
God knew we were incapable and before we even thought of looking for God, He came for us. While we were enemies, He bridges the divide of sin and death with a sacrifice of eternal love through Christ’s death and resurrection.
He has that extended for us, and as we are now coheirs with Christ, made in His image, should we not extend the same love to others?
It is difficult to give what you do not have or understand. I pray that God will open your eyes to the infinite love hat He has for you and for others. May you come to a fullness of the love that dwells in Christ for you.
Bernadette, I don’t think we neeeeed to fully understand. I struggle with that same thing towards one person, and I just keep praying about it. And I’ve read enough of the Bible to have more peace about it. God IS – FOR SURE- a just God. And He is faithful and worthy of our trust. So someday, somehow God will deal with injustices. Id recommend using bible gateway and searching with the word justice or just God, or some variation. As much as God is – gracious & loving- He is just.
Love is not a feeling, but an action. We don’t feel all “warm & fuzzy” because He felt all “warm & fuzzy” towards us. Christ acted in love when he bore our sins on the cross & took the penalty we deserved. We can choose to act in love in spite of our enemies’ (sometimes even our loved ones) actions, because that is how Jesus showed us to love!
I remember that, no matter who we are, we’re all God’s children. He knew each of us before we were born, in the womb. Jesus says the greatest commandment is to love one another as he loves us. I don’t allow myself to hate another person. However, and that’s a HUGE “however”, the struggle is real. When I find myself highly disliking another person, I pray that God changes my heart. I know He can because He changed Pharoah’s. Pray for your change, not theirs. And remember this passage from this study. “Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”
1 John 4:7-8 HCSB
Thank you for your honesty, by the way.
When you have pondering questions, how to do you research? I know Go sharpened
Sisters, God loves us.
May we follow God’s example and make this world a better place today, by not only loving God, but by passing on that love to others.
Amen, Sue.
I woke up this morning discouraged and feeling alone. This sort of feels little Groundhog Day and I keep reliving the same day. But God……..He met me in my quiet place and spoke love to me. From each of you, from His teachings and from the glorious sunrise, He spoke to me. You all are such an encouragement to me and I thank you. I pray for each of you and for our community. What a joy to know that others are along side me and we walk this path together.
We come to the close of this study and it has been a good season to sit and dwell on God’s love for us and for us to love others. The letters of John are encouraging and admonishing – the very things we need today. A balance in a world that seems tipped on its side. The comments posted by you, dear friends, fall right in line: encouraging me with your testimonies and perseverance through difficulties and admonishing me to press on in prayer, study, faith and actions. What a blessing! Thank you for sharing your insights and your burdens. I make note of them and I take them before our heavenly Father. It is a privilege. This is indeed holy ground.
This morning as I reread 1 & 2 John, I read it thinking of you ladies and how I awake every morning excited to meet with you, I have come to love and be concerned for you. I am about to put a decorated card on my prayer board so that whenever I pass it I will think about you more frequently and pray for you. Blessings this weekend and stay safe!
❤️❤️❤️