ONE IN CHRIST - devotionals

Hebrew roots of the New Testament

Reading Moses Seeing Jesus

“They put forward false witnesses who said, ‘This man incessantly speaks against this holy place and the Law; for we have heard him say that this Nazarene, Jesus, will destroy

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Messianic Perspective
Devotionals

SERVING GOD

The Holy Spirit is a person, not a thing

“While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message” (Acts 10:44). When we read verbs like “fell upon” to describe the Spirit’s activities, we all too easily think about the Spirit of God in terms of a non-personal force

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It’s not about winning arguments

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth…. The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition,

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Loving your haters

“Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake” (Acts 9:15-16). Who wants to be a “chosen instrument” in the hands of

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Devotionals

The body of Messiah

The greatest miracle

“And after he had EXPLAINED [exēgeomai] everything to them, he sent them to Joppa” (Acts 10:8). Because of a thousand plus years of replacement theology it typically takes a considerable amount of time and patience trying to explain to theologians Israel’s place in the plan of God. Ironically, the verb

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A genius way to break down walls

“Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming Christ to them” (Acts 8:5). For Jewish and Samaritan followers of Jesus, the gospel brought with it a radical change of heart and mind, a willingness to set aside a centuries’ old racial and political conflict. Philip’s journey to

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Peace that surpasses understanding

“So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase” (Acts 9:31). Stephen had recently been killed for his faith (Acts 7:58–60), believers had

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Devotionals

ENCOURAGEMENT

God has a sense of humor!

“Now when the king returned from the palace garden into the place where they were drinking wine, Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was. Then the king said, ‘Will he even assault the queen with me in the house?’ As the word went out of the king’s mouth,

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When life is no picnic

“Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier” (2 Tim 2:3-4). One of the more unifying aspects of life in Israel

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Resist the devil’s empty threats!

“For God has not given us a Spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline” (2 Tim 1:7). Paul was alone in a prison about to be put to death, he had been abandoned by my of his friends, and he is pleading with his beloved “son in

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Devotionals

Grace

Is grace dangerous?

“You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim 2:1). Paul, who has completed his race, is giving final instructions to Timothy, his beloved son in the faith. Paul urges Timothy to be “strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” Sad

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The cross makes the greatest philanthropists look like misers

“For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which

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God turns curses into blessings

“Then Noah began farming and planted a vineyard. He drank of the wine and became drunk, and uncovered himself inside his tent. Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside. But Shem and Japheth took a garment and laid it upon

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Devotionals

DISCIPLESHIP

Tell-tale signs of abusive leadership

“For you tolerate it if anyone enslaves you, anyone devours you, anyone takes advantage of you, anyone exalts himself, anyone hits you in the face” (2 Cor 11:20). It is not always easy to identify abusive leadership, particularly when we are the ones being abused. That said, there are a

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Treasure to take with you when you die

“I thank God, … longing to see you, even as I recall your tears, so that I may be filled with joy” (2 Tim 1:3a, 4). According to legend, Alexander the Great was buried with an empty hand sticking out of his coffin. It was the emperor’s way of saying

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Are you living in a circus?

“And they were giving him attention because he had for a long time astonished them with his magic arts…. Even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he observed signs and great miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed” (Acts 8:11, 13). Simon

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