Category: Devotions
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10 Lies About God: To Judge or Not to Judge?
The subject of judgment has become a touchy one in the past few decades. The word carries a negative connotation in a world where two out of three adults claim that there are no moral absolutes, and 70 percent of Americans prefer to rely on their feelings, experiences, and trusted family and friends to decide…
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10 Lies About God: Does God Care?
Where is God when bad things happen? Many of our most difficult questions come from considering God’s role in tragedies and why he allows so much suffering in the first place if he is truly good. We can often come up with reasons for hope when bad things happen to good people; maybe that tragedy…
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10 Lies About God: The Only Gate to God
At some point in life, many of us have experienced the embarrassment of trying to open a locked door only to realize there’s a sign right in front of us that reads, “Please use other door.” No matter how much pushing, pulling, and twisting you do, only the correct door will let you into the…
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10 Lies About God: A Faith Worth Having
One form of faith or another runs through our culture. For secular Christmas and Easter celebrations, we have Santa and the Easter bunny. For football games, lucky socks. Or, if all else fails, you can have faith in yourself. Whether it’s through movies, books, or inspiring Internet posts, messages such as “Just have faith” or…
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The Seventh Word: A word of confidence
Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” (Luke 23:46) We have come to the final word Jesus spoke from the cross, the last thing he said before he died. If you do an internet search for famous last words, you’ll be able to read the last words…
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The Sixth Word: A word of completion
When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” (John 19:30) Finished. It’s hard for us to think of many things actually being finished. Oh, little things get finished, I suppose. Writing an exam, reading a book—those sorts of things can be finished. Laundry, grocery shopping, cleaning, car and home maintenance—those sorts of…
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The Fifth Word: A word of fulfillment
Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” (John 19:28) Why did Jesus speak this word? If we accept the principle of the most obvious answer probably being the correct one, then the answer to the question, “Why did Jesus speak this word?”…
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The Fourth Word: A word of ???
From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). (Matthew 27:45,46) The initial title for this fourth word was “A word of anguish,” but…