Set Free – Romans 8:2

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1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.
Romans 8:1-2 (NIV)

What does condemnation mean? It means that by our sins, we are sentenced to death; we are condemned. However, our belief in Jesus delivers us from the power of sin.

Jesus was judged and crucified for our salvation. His death on the cross paid the full price for our sins. We are set free from the power of sin; there is no condemnation for anyone who believes in Jesus. We are declared righteous by God and set free by the law of the Holy Spirit.

2 I am now controlled by the law of the Holy Spirit. That law gives me life because of what Christ Jesus has done. It has set me free from the law of sin that brings death.
Romans 8:2 (NIRV)

Life with the law of the Holy Spirit in control sets us free from sin and death.

Those who enter into Christ’s being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death.
Romans 8:1b-2 (MSG)

For whoever believes in Jesus shall not perish but have eternal life.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16 (NIV)

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Are you held captive by sin, or have you accepted Jesus and been set free from the law of sin and death?

Prayer: Our Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us Your Son, Jesus. By Your love, Jesus was crucified for our sins. We thank You that Jesus set us free from the law of sin. Like a butterfly is free to travel flower to flower, teach us to follow Jesus and be set free from sin and death. In Jesus’ name. Amen

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Living Hope – 1 Peter 1:3

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1 Peter 1:3 (NIV)

Peter, an apostle of Jesus, says in this verse that we should praise and bless God for his great mercy, for He has blessed us with His son, Jesus. Through God’s grace, Jesus came to earth, was crucified for our sins, and resurrected from the dead. His death and resurrection gave us a new birth, born of God, and a living hope. In this verse, the Greek word hope means to have eager, confident expectations. Through Christ’s death and resurrection, we have a confident living hope and the promise of salvation. We are born anew by grace and through faith.

By God’s steadfast love and through His grace, those who believe in Christ and repent their sin will be saved. Christ lives; He is our living confident hope for eternal life.

4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you,
1 Peter 1:4 (NIV)

God, in His grace, gave us His son Jesus, our Savior, our Living Hope, and our salvation.

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Is your hope, your Living Hope, in Jesus?

Prayer: Our Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your mercy and grace. Teach us to rest in Your promises during difficult times. Let us grow in trust and faith, secure in the knowledge that we are born anew by Your grace. We thank You and praise You for giving us Your son, Jesus, to forgive our sins. He is our Living Hope and Redeemer. Like the three open tulips are facing skyward, let us be open to our triune God and keep our faces turned toward You. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen

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Complete: Hebrews 13:21

20Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Hebrews 13: 20-21 (NKJ)

Hebrew 13:21 is part of the benediction found at the end of the book of Hebrews, closing the letter to Jewish converts to Christianity. The author encourages them to continue in obedience, love, and prayer. For them to embrace Jesus’ sacrifice and accept the everlasting covenant; to grow in trust and follow God’s will. The author is praying for the people to be made complete in everything good and every good work. God equips us through the power of Jesus, providing everything we need to follow His path. To make us complete, prepared, and pleasing in His sight. To Christ be glory forever and ever!

May God, who puts all things together, makes all things whole,
Who made a lasting mark through the sacrifice of Jesus,
the sacrifice of blood that sealed the eternal covenant,
Who led Jesus, our Great Shepherd, up and alive from the dead,
Now put you together, provide you with everything you need to please him,
Make us into what gives him most pleasure, by means of the sacrifice of Jesus, the Messiah.
All glory to Jesus forever and always! Oh, yes, yes, yes.
Hebrews 13: 20-21(MSG)

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Do you feel prepared and accept what is needed to be complete and pleasing to God?

Prayer; Our Heavenly Father, our God of Peace who puts all things together, we raise our voices to You in thanksgiving and praise. Thank You for your son, Jesus; His sacrifice for us and the everlasting covenant sealed by His blood. Like the hydrangea’s small individual flowers open and mature in time, becoming complete, let us open our hearts to You, follow Your will and become complete and pleasing in Your sight. In Jesus’ name. Amen

I believe in the power of prayer and would be glad to pray for you. Leave a comment or message me on my contact page. 🌺

The Lord will Rescue Me – 2 Timothy 4:18

¹⁶At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. ¹⁷But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. ¹⁸The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
2 Timothy 4:16-18 (NIV)

Second Timothy; was written by Paul while he was in prison. He was writing to encourage Timothy to assure him that God keeps His promises; He is faithful.

Paul praises God; he expected to die soon but was confident of his eternal destiny.

The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
2 Timothy 4:18 (NIV)

He had the assurance that the Lord would rescue him from evil and; bring him safely to His heavenly kingdom. Instead of despairing, he was able to rejoice in the Lord, saying, “To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen”.
For Christ is the power and glory forever and ever!

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Do you have assurance in God’s promises; that He will rescue you from evil and bring you safely to His heavenly kingdom?

Prayer; Lord, we thank You for helping us and rescuing us from evil. Teach us to rely on You and have faith in Your promises. As the Gerbera Daisy flowers spread upward; toward the sun, let us reach upward toward Christ Your Son. We raise our praises, to You be the glory forever and ever. Amen

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Faith from Hearing: Romans 10:17

13For “Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.” 14But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?
Romans 10:13-14

Paul is encouraging people to spread the Good News about Christ to everyone, Jews and Gentiles.

So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.
Romans 10:17 (NLT)

Faith comes by hearing, by hearing about Christ, hearing what the Lord says through Christ.
Christians need to share Christ’s message and bring the Good News to non-believers. To believe in Him, people need to hear about Christ and His message. Faith comes from hearing and applying. How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news. (Romans 20:15b)

15And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”
Romans 10:15 (NLT)

Faith comes from hearing and sharing the gospel, by grand processions of people, telling the Good News of Christ. Sharing the gospel allows everyone who believes and calls on the name of the Lord; to be saved.

14-17 But how can people call for help if they don’t know who to trust? And how can they know who to trust if they haven’t heard of the One who can be trusted? And how can they hear if nobody tells them? And how is anyone going to tell them, unless someone is sent to do it? That’s why Scripture exclaims,

A sight to take your breath away!
Grand processions of people
telling all the good things of God!
Romans 10:14-17 (MSG)

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Faith comes from hearing the message of Christ. Have you shared Christ’s message?

Prayer; Our Heavenly Father, we; thank You for your forgiveness and love. Teach us to be Your hands and feet, to be messengers telling all the good things of God. Let people grow in faith from hearing our message. Like the gazania’s bright and open flower, let us brightly shine with and be open to sharing your Word. In Jesus’ name. Amen

Happy Independence Day – July 4th. 🌺

Everything We Need – 2 Peter 1:3

3We have everything we need to live a life that pleases God. It was all given to us by God’s own power, when we learned he had invited us to share in his wonderful goodness.
2 Peter 1:3-4 (CEV)

In this letter, Simon Peter is writing to the churches in Asia Minor. False teachers were leading them astray. He explains that following Jesus and the Word of God; gives us access to everything we need to live a life that pleases God.

1 This letter is from Simon[a] Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ. I am writing to you who share the same precious faith we have. This faith was given to you because of the justice and fairness[b] of Jesus Christ, our God and Savior. 2 May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.
2 Peter 1:1-2 (NLT)

The Lord’s divine power is available to believers who embrace Jesus and His lifestyle. God’s power gives us everything we need to lead the life He is calling us to. When we believe, God equips us with the skills we need. These God-given gifts; are our’s; we need to choose to use them.

4 God made great and marvelous promises, so his nature would become part of us. Then we could escape our evil desires and the corrupt influences of this world.
2 Peter 1:4 (CEV)

God’s strength is available to us when we reach out in prayer. His promises are true; He gives us eternal life through His son, Jesus. Grace, peace, and God’s great promises and ours when we believe and follow Jesus escaping the corrupt influences of the world. God gives us everything we need.

3 Everything that goes into a life of pleasing God has been miraculously given to us by getting to know, personally and intimately, the One who invited us to God. The best invitation we ever received! 4 We were also given absolutely terrific promises to pass on to you – your tickets to participation in the life of God after you turned your back on a world corrupted by lust.
2 Peter 1:3-4 (MSG)

Prayer; We thank you, Lord, for loving us; and giving us everything we need to live a life pleasing to you. Teach us to follow Jesus, guide our path, and keep us away from evil. Like the yellow gerbera daisy brightens the garden, let Your spiritual gifts brighten our lives. In Jesus’ name. Amen

Love and Patience: 2Thessalonians 3:5

May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ.
2 Thessalonians 3:5 (NLT)

Paul is praying for the Thessalonians, for the Lord to direct their hearts. So they comprehend the steadfast love of God.
Paul encourages them to embrace the patience and endurance found in Christ. He is praying for them to be steadfast in God’s ways and to learn to be patient like Christ. May they have endurance while being conformed day by day more like Christ.

Have you embraced the love and patient endurance that comes from Christ?

Prayer; Lord, we thank you for your abundant love. Teach us to open our hearts and embrace your love. Guide us to follow Your word and path for us. As we grow in faith, teach us to be loving and patient. Like the heart-shaped leaves of the caladium brighten the environment, let our hearts be shaped by Your love and enlighten the world. In Jesus’ name. Amen

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Rescued: Colossians 1:13

13 For He rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Colossians 1:13-14 (NASB)

These verses are a portion of Paul’s prayer for the Colossian church. In it, he encourages them to give joyful thanks to God the Father. Reminding them that they were rescued by God, from the domain of darkness, from the bondage to sin, and delivered them into the kingdom of light.

12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you[b] to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.
Colossians 1:12 (NASB)

The kingdom of light; is the kingdom of God’s beloved Son, Jesus. Through Jesus’ death on the cross, we are redeemed from the power of sin and death and have confidence in our eternal destiny. ⁂

Have you embraced the truth and light of Jesus? Are you rescued are, your sins redeemed?

Prayer; Our Heavenly Father, we are in awe of Your love, grace, and mercy. Thank you for sending Your Son, Jesus, to rescue us from our sins. Let us shine with Your light and spread Your Word. Like the cardinal plant glows in the sunlight, teach us to glow with your light and shine it into the darkness. In Jesus’ holy and loving name. Amen

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Freedom: Galatians 5:13

For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity to indulge your flesh, but through love serve one another.
Galatians 5:13 (NET)

In the United States of America, today is Independence Day, causing me to think about freedom. Freedom through Christ. How are we free? By following the teachings of Jesus and by being His disciple; by believing in Him, and walking in obedience. We obtained freedom by Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. Through our faith in Christ, we live in freedom, freedom from the slavery of sin; our sins are forgiven. We belong to God; we are His chosen.

In freedom, we are allowed to make choices. Choices we will be held accountable for. Our freedom is not to be used as an excuse to indulge ourselves, but instead to serve one another in love.
As the Message bible version of Galatians 5:14 states: “For everything, we know about God’s Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That’s an act of true freedom.”

^13-14It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don’t use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that’s how freedom grows. For everything we know about God’s Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That’s an act of true freedom.
Galatians 5:13-14 (MSG)

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By God’s grace, we have freedom. Is your freedom as a Christian focused on self-satisfaction or on serving others in love?

Prayer; Lord Jesus, we thank you for setting us free from slavery to sin. We thank You for the freedom you have granted us through Your grace. Guide us to use this freedom to be more like You in our actions. As the Gomphrena, Fireworks pink blossoms with tiny yellow flowers spread outward in all directions; let us spread Your love outward to others, in all directions. Amen

Renewed: 2 Corinthians 4:16

16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
2 Corinthians 4:16-17 (NIV)

Paul is stating not to give up or lose heart. Though his body was in chains and wasting away, his inward body (spiritual body) was renewed, strengthened, and invigorated daily by faith and grace.
Having faith in God and believing in Christ’s resurrection gives us hope. This hope is greater than any difficulty on earth.
For Jesus overcame the world, achieving eternal glory for all who believe in Him.

I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In the world you have trouble and suffering, but take courage–I have conquered the world.”
John 16:33 (NET)

Is your hope in Christ greater than your difficulties. Does this hope renew and strengthen you?

Prayer; Lord Jesus, we ask you to strengthen us so that we don’t lose heart; but are inwardly renewed. Teach us to take our difficulties to You in prayer and move forward in faith and hope. Let us find comfort and rest in the knowledge that you have conquered the world. Like the clematis grows back and renews every spring, let us grow in faith and hope and be renewed daily. Amen

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