John 3:16-18 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (4/11/2022)

EASTER THOT…

“We shall never understand the extent of God's love in Christ at the Cross until we understand that we shall never have to stand before the judgment of God for our sins.”

Billy Graham

John‬ ‭3:16-18‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son.

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2 Corinthians‬ ‭5:21‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

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Matthew 15:10-11, 15-20 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (4/8/2022)…

NOTE: The following is derived and edited from an article titled “10 Sins Jesus Condemns Most Harshly in Scripture” by Cortney Whiting (7/9/2019). The challenge is that of disciplined prayerful self-examination as opposed to a critique of others.

#10: IMPURITY

Matthew‬ ‭15:10-11, 15-20‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Then Jesus called to the crowd to come and hear. “Listen,” he said, “and try to understand. It’s not what goes into your mouth that defiles you; you are defiled by the words that come out of your mouth.”

…Then Peter said to Jesus, “Explain to us the parable that says people aren’t defiled by what they eat.” 

“Don’t you understand yet?” Jesus asked. “Anything you eat passes through the stomach and then goes into the sewer. But the words you speak come from the heart—that’s what defiles you. For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander. These are what defile you. Eating with unwashed hands will never defile you.”

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Matthew 7:1-5 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (4/7/2022)…

NOTE: The following is derived and edited from an article titled “10 Sins Jesus Condemns Most Harshly in Scripture” by Cortney Whiting (7/9/2019). The challenge is that of disciplined prayerful self-examination as opposed to a critique of others.

#9: JUDGING OTHERS

Matthew‬ ‭7:1-5‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged. 

And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.”

James‬ ‭4:11-12‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Don’t speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters. If you criticize and judge each other, then you are criticizing and judging God’s law. But your job is to obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you. God alone, who gave the law, is the Judge. He alone has the power to save or to destroy. So what right do you have to judge your neighbor?

 Ephesians‬ ‭4:29‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

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John 14:15 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (4/6/2020)…

NOTE: The following is derived and edited from an article titled “10 Sins Jesus Condemns Most Harshly in Scripture” by Cortney Whiting (7/9/2019). The challenge is that of disciplined prayerful self-examination as opposed to a critique of others.

#8: DISOBEDIENCE

John‬ ‭14:15‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) “If you love me, obey my commandments.”

1 Peter‬ ‭1:14‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then.

1 John‬ ‭5:3-5‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome. For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.

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John 13:34-35 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (4/5/2022)…

NOTE: The following is derived and edited from an article titled “10 Sins Jesus Condemns Most Harshly in Scripture” by Cortney Whiting (7/9/2019). The challenge is that of disciplined prayerful self-examination as opposed to a critique of others.

#7: HATRED

John‬ ‭13:34-35‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭2:9-11‬ (‭NLT‬‬) If anyone claims, “I am living in the light,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is still living in darkness. Anyone who loves a fellow believer is living in the light and does not cause others to stumble. But anyone who hates a fellow believer is still living and walking in darkness. Such a person does not know the way to go, having been blinded by the darkness.

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Ephesians‬ ‭4:31-32‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

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Matthew 6:14-15 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (4/4/2022)…

NOTE: The following is derived and edited from an article titled “10 Sins Jesus Condemns Most Harshly in Scripture” by Cortney Whiting (7/9/2019). The challenge is that of disciplined prayerful self-examination as opposed to a critique of others.

#6: UNFORGIVENESS

Matthew‬ ‭6:14-15‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

Ephesians‬ ‭4:31-32‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

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Mark 12:41-44 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (4/1/2022)…

NOTE: The following is derived and edited from an article titled “10 Sins Jesus Condemns Most Harshly in Scripture” by Cortney Whiting (7/9/2019). The challenge is that of disciplined prayerful self-examination as opposed to a critique of others.

#5: GREED

 Mark‬ ‭12:41-44‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts. Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins. 

Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.”

Matthew‬ ‭6:24‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.”

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Image: "NT163.Widow's Mite" by pcstratman is marked with CC BY-SA 2.0.