Search results for tag #faith
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π€βοΈπβοΈπ£βοΈπ£οΈπποΈπ¦β€οΈβπ₯ππ©πππ©΅πͺππ―πβ‘οΈππ«πππ©·π€[JESUS!βStrive to enter through the narrow door!*For many I tell you will not be able!*& you knock at the door!*& he will answer!*βI do not know you Depart from me workers of evil!β*In that place there will be weeping!*& when you see all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you cast out!π
(Luke 13:22-30)
#Narrow #Door
#Christ #Jesus #TEACHING #GOD #Holy #Spirit #Savior #Light #World #Pray #Believe #Christian #Heaven #Hope #Peace #Faith #Truth #Understanding #Love
π€βοΈπβοΈπ£βοΈπ£οΈπποΈπ¦β€οΈβπ₯ππ©πππ©΅πͺππ―πβ‘οΈππ«πππ©·π€(JESUS!βStrive to enter through the narrow door!*For many I tell you will not be able!*& you knock at the door!*& he will answer!*βI do not know you Depart from me you workers of evil!β*In that place there will be weeping!*& when you see Abraham!*& Isaac!*& Jacob!*& all the prophets in the kingdom of Godπ
(Luke 13:22-30)
#Narrow #Door
#Christ #Jesus #GOD #Holy #Spirit #Savior #Light #World #Pray #Believe #Christian #Heaven #Hope #Faith #Truth #Understanding #Love
π€βοΈπβοΈπ£βοΈπ£οΈπποΈπ¦β€οΈβπ₯ππ©πππ©΅πͺππ―πβ‘οΈππ«πππ©·π€(JESUS!βStrive to enter through the narrow door!*For many I tell you will seek to enter!*& will not be able!*& you begin to knock at the door!*saying!*βLord!*open to us!β*he will answer!*βI do not know you!*l*Depart from me!*all you workers of evil!β*In that place there will be weeping!*& gnashing of teeth!π
(Luke 13:22-30)
#Narrow #Door
#Christ #Jesus #GOD #Holy #Spirit #Savior #Light #World #Pray #Christian #Heaven #Hope #Peace #Faith #Truth #Understanding #Love
π€βοΈπβοΈπ£βοΈπ£οΈπποΈπ¦β€οΈβπ₯ππ©πππ©΅πͺππ―πβ‘οΈππ«πππ©·π€(JESUS said!βStrive to enter through the narrow door!*For many I tell you will seek to enter!*& will not be able!*WHEN the door IS SHUT!*& you begin to knock at the door!*saying!*βLord!*open to us!β*he will answer you!*βI do not know you!*Then you will begin to say!*βyou taught in our streets!βπ
(Luke 13:22-30)
#Narrow #Door
#Christ #Jesus #GOD #Holy #Spirit #Savior #Light #World #Pray #Believe #Christian #Heaven #Hope #Peace #Faith #Truth #Goodness #Kindness #Love
π€βοΈπβοΈπ£βοΈπ£οΈπποΈπ¦β€οΈβπ₯ππ©πππ©΅πͺππ―πβ‘οΈππ«πππ©·π€(JESUS said!βStrive to enter through the narrow door!*For many I tell you will seek to enter!*& will not be able!*WHEN the door IS SHUT!*& you begin to stand outside!*& to knock at the door!*saying!*βLord!*open to us!β*then he will answer you!*βI do not know you!*Then you will begin to say!*βWe ate!*& drank in your presence!*& you taught in our streets!β)π
(Luke 13:22-30)
#Narrow #Door
#Christ #Jesus #GOD #Holy #Spirit #Pray #Heaven #Hope #Faith #Understanding #Love
π€βοΈπβοΈπ£βοΈπ£οΈπποΈπ¦β€οΈβπ₯ππ©πππ©΅πͺππ―πβ‘οΈππ«πππ©·π€(JESUS said to them!*βStrive to enter through the narrow door!*For many!*I tell you!*will seek to enter!*& will not be able!*When once the master of the house has risen!*& shut the door!*& you begin to stand outside!*& to knock at the door!*saying!*βLord!*open to us!β*then he will answer you!*βI do not know where you come from!β)π
(Luke 13:22-30)
#Narrow #Door
#Christ #Jesus #GOD #Holy #Spirit #Savior #Light #World #Pray #Christian #Heaven #Hope #Faith #Truth #Love
π€βοΈπβοΈπ£βοΈπ£οΈπποΈπ¦β€οΈβπ₯ππ©πππ©΅πͺππ―πβ‘οΈππ«πππ©·π€(JESUS journeying someone said to him!*βLord!*will those who are saved be few?β*& he said to them!*βStrive to enter through the narrow door!*For many!*I tell you!*will seek to enter!*& will not be able!)π
(Luke 13:22-30)
#The #Narrow #Door
#Christ #Jesus #TEACHING #GOD #Holy #Spirit #Savior #Light #World #Pray #Believe #Christian #Heaven #Hope #Peace #Faith #Truth #Goodness #Understanding #Love #JEWISH #ALL #RELIGIONS #PEOPLE #SAINTS #AND #SOON #TO #BE #SAINTS
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Donβt Give Up
Discouragement has a way of quietly working its way into our hearts. It rarely announces itself all at once. But God reminds us in today's Gem: "You will only be defeated if you give up on Me and doing what is right. Don't give up. Amen." If you're feeling weary today, don't mistake weariness for defeat. As long as you continue holding on to Christ, He is still leading you forward. Don't give up. π [SENSITIVE CONTENT]
Todayβs One Year Bible Verses: 1 Chronicles 24:1β26:11, Romans 4:1β12, Psalm 13:1β6, Proverbs 19:15β16
One Step At A Time
Discouragement has a way of quietly working its way into our hearts. It rarely announces itself all at once. More often, it begins with disappointment after an unanswered prayer, exhaustion from continually doing the right thing, or wondering if our efforts are making any difference. If left unchecked, discouragement can slowly convince us that giving up would be easier than continuing to trust God.
That is why today’s Gem is such a timely reminder:
“You will only be defeated if you give up on Me and doing what is right. Don’t give up. Amen.”
What struck me most about this Gem is what God defines as defeat. We often think defeat comes when life falls apart, when we fail, or when our circumstances don’t improve. But God paints a very different picture. Hardships don’t defeat us. Delays don’t defeat us. Even our failures don’t have the final word if we continue to turn back to Him. True defeat comes only when we stop trusting Him and choose to walk away from what is right.
David understood what it felt like to struggle with discouragement. In Psalm 13 he poured out his heart before the Lord, asking,Β “How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever?”Β Those aren’t the words of a man who has everything figured out; they’re the honest cry of someone whose faith is being tested. Yet by the end of the psalm, David hasn’t received the answer he was hoping for. His circumstances haven’t suddenly changed. Instead, his perspective has.
He writes,Β “But I trust in Your unfailing love. I will rejoice because You have rescued me. I will sing to the LORD because He is good to me.”Β David chose to anchor himself in God’s character instead of his circumstances. He remembered who God had always been, and that remembrance gave him the strength to keep trusting even before the answer arrived.
That same kind of faith is beautifully illustrated in Romans 4 through the life of Abraham. Paul reminds us that Abraham was declared righteous because he believed God. Long before he ever held the promised son in his arms, Abraham chose to trust the One who made the promise. His faith wasn’t based on what he could see; it was based on the faithfulness of God.
Perhaps that is the lesson woven through today’s readings:
Faithfulness is not the absence of struggle. It is the decision to keep following God in the middle of it.
Most days, that faithfulness isn’t dramatic. It looks like continuing to pray when you haven’t yet received an answer. It looks like choosing integrity when compromise would be easier. It looks like opening God’s Word when your heart feels dry, forgiving someone one more time, serving quietly without recognition, or taking the next step of obedience even when you cannot see where the path leads.
The enemy would love nothing more than for you to believe your perseverance is pointless. God says the opposite. Every time you continue trusting Him and choosing what is right, you are walking in victory, even if you can’t yet see the outcome.
If you’re feeling weary today, don’t mistake weariness for defeat. As long as you continue holding on to Christ, He is still leading you forward. The battle may not be over, but neither is your story. Keep trusting. Keep obeying. Keep doing what is right.
Don’t give up. π
Action (5 Minutes with God)
Take 5 minutes to be with the God today. Ask Him:
- βLord, what do You want me to know about this personally?β
- Journal what He gives you through His Holy Spirit.
- Then ask, βWhat do You want me to do?β
- Journal what He reveals βΒ then do it!
Let today be a day of trusting Him with everything you cannot yet see.
Prayer
Dear Lord, thank You for reminding me that my circumstances do not determine whether I have been defeated. Help me to keep trusting You when I grow weary and to continue doing what is right even when I don’t immediately see the results. Strengthen my faith like Abraham’s, and help me remember Your faithfulness like David did. Keep my eyes fixed on You, and give me the courage to keep walking one step at a time. Thank You for never giving up on me. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
To read more 5 Minutes with God devotionals click here.
If Gems of Knowledge has blessed your walk with Christ, please subscribe or consider partnering with us today. Your gift helps keep these devotionals free for everyone and carries Godβs Word to more hearts. Every seed mattersβthank you for sowing into this work! π
Test everything by the Word and the Spirit (John 16:13)
Alt...
A lone traveler wearing a backpack walks along a winding country road at sunrise as Jesus walks a few steps ahead, looking back with a warm smile. Golden morning light fills the landscape, symbolizing faith, perseverance, and following Christ one step at a time.
π€βοΈπβοΈπ£βοΈπ£οΈπποΈπ¦β€οΈβπ₯ππ©πππ©΅πͺππ―πβ‘οΈππ«πππ©·π€(JESUS went on his way through towns!*& villages!* teaching!*& journeying toward Jerusalem!*& someone said to him!*βLord!*will those who are saved be few?β)π
(Luke 13:22-30)
#The #Narrow #Door
#Christ #Jesus #TEACHING #GOD #Holy #Spirit #Savior #Light #World #Pray #Believe #Christian #Heaven #Hope #Peace #Faith #Truth #Goodness #Kindness #Gentleness #Understanding #Unity #Love #One #Another #JEWISH #ALL #RELIGIONS #AND #ALL #PEOPLE #SAINTS #AND #SOON #TO #BE #SAINTS
π€βοΈπβοΈπ£βοΈπ£οΈπποΈπ¦β€οΈβπ₯ππ©πππ©΅πͺππ―πβ‘οΈππ«πππ©·π€(JESUS ON HIS JOURNEY TEACHES US ALL ON THIS REALM OF EARTH)*[*JESUS went on his way through towns!*& villages!* teaching!*&π
(Luke 13:22-30)
#The #Narrow #Door
#Christ #Jesus #TEACHING #Devotional #GOD #Holy #Spirit #Savior #Light #World #Pray #Believe #Christian #Heaven #Hope #Peace #Faith #Truth #Goodness #Kindness #Hospitality #Gentleness #Understanding #Unity #Love #One #Another #JEWISH #ALL #RELIGIONS #AND #ALL #PEOPLE #SAINTS #AND #SOON #TO #BE #SAINTS
π€βοΈπβοΈπ£βοΈπ£οΈπποΈπ¦β€οΈβπ₯ππ©πππ©΅πͺππ―πβ‘οΈππ«πππ©·π€*THE NARROW DOOR!π€πππ©·βοΈπβοΈβοΈβοΈποΈπ¦β€οΈβπ₯ππ©πππ©΅πͺππ―πβ‘οΈππ«π£οΈπ£π€
βοΈπβοΈπ£οΈβοΈπποΈπ¦β€οΈβπ₯π©ππ£π£π£ππ«ππ―ππ©·πβ‘οΈπππ©΅πββοΈ(JESUS ON HIS JOURNEY TEACHES US ALL ON THIS REALM OFπ
(Luke 13:22-30)
#The #Narrow #Door
#Christ #Jesus #TEACHING #Devotional #GOD #Holy #Spirit #Savior #Light #World #Pray #Believe #Christian #Heaven #Hope #Peace #Faith #Truth #Goodness #Kindness #Hospitality #Gentleness #Understanding #Unity #Love #One #Another #JEWISH #ALL #RELIGIONS #AND #ALL #PEOPLE #SAINTS #AND #SOON #TO #BE #SAINTS
βοΈπβοΈπ£π£οΈβοΈπποΈπ¦π©πππ«β€οΈβπ₯ππ―ππ©·π©΅πβ‘οΈπππ©·ππΎββοΈ*[βTHE NARROW DOOR!β*HAS ALWAYS CONCERNED ME FOR MYSELF!*& OTHERS IN THE WORLD!*& I PONDER WILL I?*& YOU BE ABLE TO BE ACCEPTED INTO THE NARROW DOOR WHEN WE KNOCK?*& WILL JESUS KNOW US?*& WHAT CAN WE DO TO PREPARE SO HE WILL RECOGNIZE US ALL TO GET THROUGH THAT VERY IMPORTANT]*Narrow Door?!?*AMEN!β π
(Luke 13:22-30)
#The #Narrow #Door
#Christ #Jesus #GOD #Holy #Spirit #Savior #Light #World #Pray #Believe #Christian #Heaven #Hope #Faith #Truth #Understanding #Love
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You have to know when to stop evangelizing
By Elizabeth Prata
Matthew 28:19-20 famously says,
“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.“
This is known as The Great Commission, where Jesus, upon the occasion of His departure from earth, told His disciples to evangelize, baptize, and raise up more disciples.
Mark 16:15 says, And He saidΒ to them, βGoΒ into allΒ the worldΒ and preachΒ the gospelΒ to allΒ creation.
So, we do. We share the Gospel (using words). It is our duty and our privilege.
So it seems like it would be a dereliction of duty to quit giving the Gospel to someone who rejects it. But it isn’t. If a person has been shared with and given the blessed Gospel of God, not only once but a few times, and they reject, it is OK to stop. In fact, sometimes they entrench further into their depravity and sin each time we bring it up. Rather that push the issue, stop and let the Holy Spirit do His work. If that person has been chosen and elect, they will at some point come to see as the scales fall from their eyes.
As Paul is a great model for sharing the Gospel he is also a great model of when to stop sharing the Gospel:
Acts 18:6, But when they resisted and blasphemed, he shook out his garments and said to them, “Your blood is on your own heads! I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.“
If they were blaspheming, their minds were definitely not ready and that meant their heart was not accepting either. Let them go and move on to more fruitful fields. Also, if they were blaspheming, they were heaping sin upon themselves. We don’t want that for them. Just let them go and let the seed germinate if it is going to.
Here is another example-
Acts 19:9, But when some were becoming hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the people, he [Paul] withdrew from them and took the disciples awayΒ with him,Β and had discussions daily in the school of Tyrannus.
They were becoming hardened. Sometimes when we share the Gospel with a loved one, we can spiritually see them hardening. We feel them moving away from Jesus, not toward.
Sometimes it is OK to stop giving the Gospel if they ask you to stop. If you have shared and are satisfied with your clarity in that share, and the next time or two you’ve raised the issue and they say ‘stop’ then respect that and just love them.
This verse is kind of a brutal description, but remember, it’s advice from the All Omniscient One-
“Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.” (Matthew 7:6).
And we remember Matthew 10:14, where Jesus instructed them,
And whoever does not receive you nor listen to your words, as you leave that house or city, shake the dust off your feet.
So, is the person you’re sharing with stomping on the Gospel, rejecting it in a blaspheming way, or just weary of the ‘Jesus-talk’? It is OK to stop. It is actually loving to keep on loving them but refrain from continuing the Gospel share so that they do not blaspheme or harden. But pray for them.
βοΈπβοΈπ£π£π£π£οΈβοΈπποΈπ¦π©πππ«β€οΈβπ₯ππ―ππ©·π©΅πβ‘οΈπππ©·ππΎββοΈ*[βJESUSββ TEACHING ABOUT βTHE NARROW DOOR!β*HAS ALWAYS CONCERNED ME FOR MYSELF!*& OTHERS IN THE WORLD!*& I PONDER WILL I?*& YOU BE ABLE TO BE ACCEPTED INTO THE NARROW DOOR WHEN WE KNOCK?π
(Luke 13:22-30)
#The #Narrow #Door
#Christ #Jesus #TEACHING #Devotional #GOD #Holy #Spirit #Savior #Light #World #Pray #Believe #Christian #Heaven #Hope #Peace #Faith #Truth #Goodness #Kindness #Hospitality #Gentleness #Understanding #Unity #Love #One #Another #JEWISH #ALL
βοΈπβοΈπ£π£π£π£οΈβοΈπποΈπ¦π©πππ«β€οΈβπ₯ππ―ππ©·π©΅πβ‘οΈπππ©·ππΎββοΈ*[FRIENDS βJESUSββ TEACHING ABOUT βTHE NARROW DOOR!β*HAS ALWAYS CONCERNED ME FOR MYSELF!*& OTHERS IN THE WORLD!*& I PONDER WILL I?*&π
(Luke 13:22-30)
#The #Narrow #Door
#Christ #Jesus #TEACHING #Devotional #GOD #Holy #Spirit #Savior #Light #World #Pray #Believe #Christian #Heaven #Hope #Peace #Faith #Truth #Goodness #Kindness #Hospitality #Gentleness #Understanding #Unity #Love #One #Another #JEWISH #ALL #RELIGIONS #AND #ALL #PEOPLE #SAINTS #AND #SOON #TO #BE #SAINTS
βοΈπβοΈπ£π£π£π£οΈβοΈπποΈπ¦π©πππ«β€οΈβπ₯ππ―ππ©·π©΅πβ‘οΈπππ©·ππΎββοΈ*[DEAR BELOVED FRIENDS βEVANGELIST LUKEβ RECOUNTS FOR US ALL IN CHAPTER (Luke 13) βJESUSββ TEACHING AS HE JOURNEYS TO βJerusalemβ!*& IN βTHE NARROW DOOR!β*& JESUSβ TEACHING OF THIS HAS ALWAYS CONCERNED ME FOR MYSELF!*& OTHERS IN THE WORLD!π
(Luke 13:22-30)
#The #Narrow #Door
#Christ #Jesus #TEACHING #GOD #Holy #Spirit #Savior #Light #World #Pray #Believe #Christian #Heaven #Hope #Faith #Truth #Goodness #Understanding #Love #JEWISH #ALL #RELIGIONS #ALL #PEOPLE
βοΈπβοΈπ£π£π£π£οΈβοΈπποΈπ¦π©πππ«β€οΈβπ₯ππ―ππ©·π©΅πβ‘οΈπππ©·ππΎββοΈ*[DEAR BELOVED FRIENDS ACROSS THE WORLD βEVANGELIST LUKEβ RECOUNTS FOR US ALL IN CHAPTER (Luke 13) βJESUSββ TEACHING AS HE JOURNEYS TO βJerusalemβ!π
Luke 13:22-30
#The #Narrow #Door
#Christ #Jesus #TEACHING #Devotional #GOD #Holy #Spirit #Savior #Light #World #Pray #Believe #Christian #Heaven #Hope #Peace #Faith #Truth #Goodness #Kindness #Gentleness #Understanding #Unity #Love #One #Another #JEWISH #ALL #RELIGIONS #AND #ALL #PEOPLE #SAINTS #AND #SOON #TO #BE #SAINTS
ππποΈπ¦π©·π©΅ππ©π«Άπ«Άπ»π«ΆπΏπ©΄π©΄ππποΈπβ±οΈπ΄π€ΈπΏββοΈβΉπΏββοΈπβ½πΎππΏπΈππ€½πΏββοΈπ€ΎπΏββοΈπ΄πΏββοΈπ΅πΏββοΈππ£π¦π‘π πΌπΌπ’π€πππππΌββοΈ*DEAR BELOVED LOVING!*KIND!*PASSIONATE!*CURIOUS!*& EMPATHETIC FRIENDS I HOPE!*PRAY!*& WISH YOU ALL A SAFE!*FUN!*WHIMSICAL!*& AWESOME FANTASTIC DAY!*AMEN!β π€ππ©π«Άπ«Άπ»π«ΆπΏππποΈπβ±οΈπ΄π€ΈπΏββοΈπ΄βΉπΏββοΈπβ½πΎππΏπΈππ€½πΏββοΈπ€ΎπΏββοΈπ΄πΏββοΈπ΅πΏββοΈππ£π¦π‘π πΌπΌπ’ππ€π©·πΈβ΅β΅ππ€π
#Christ #Jesus #TEACHING #Devotional #GOD #Holy #Spirit #Savior #Light #World #Pray #Believe #Christian #Heaven #Hope #Peace #Faith #Truth #Goodness #Kindness #Hospitality #Gentleness #Understanding #Unity #Love #One #Another #JEWISH #ALL #RELIGIONS
ππποΈπ¦π©·π©΅ππ©π«Άπ«Άπ»π«ΆπΏπ©΄π©΄ππποΈπβ±οΈπ΄π€ΈπΏββοΈβΉπΏββοΈπβ½πΎππΏπΈππ€½πΏββοΈπ€ΎπΏββοΈπ΄πΏββοΈπ΅πΏββοΈππ£π¦π‘π πΌπΌπ’π€πππππΌββοΈ*DEAR BELOVED LOVING!*KIND!*PASSIONATE!*CURIOUS!*& EMPATHETIC FRIENDS I AM FEEDING MY SPIRIT WITH GOOD!*& LOVING THINGS!*& SHARING WITH YOU ALL TOO SO WE CAN HAVE PROFOUND THINGS TO PONDER!*& GAIN POSITIVE HOPE THAT WE CAN BOOST OTHERS UP ACROSS THE WORLD!*ENJOY!*AMEN!ππ
#Christ #Jesus #Devotional #GOD #Holy #Spirit #Savior #Light #World #Pray #Believe #Christian #Heaven #Hope #Peace #Faith #Truth #Goodness #Kindness #Gentleness #Love
ππποΈπ¦π©·π©΅ππ©π«Άπ«Άπ»π«ΆπΏπ©΄π©΄ππποΈπβ±οΈπ΄π€ΈπΏββοΈβΉπΏββοΈπβ½πΎππΏπΈππ€½πΏββοΈπ€ΎπΏββοΈπ΄πΏββοΈπ΅πΏββοΈππ£π¦π‘π πΌπΌπ’π€πππππΌββοΈ*DEAR BELOVED LOVING!*KIND!*PASSIONATE!*CURIOUS!*& EMPATHETIC FRIENDS I AM ENJOYING FEEDING MY SPIRIT WITH GOOD!*& LOVING THINGS!*BECAUSE IT IS MY FAVORITE TIME OF THE DAY SHARING WITH YOU ALL TOOπ
#Christ #Jesus #Devotional #GOD #Holy #Spirit #Savior #Light #World #Pray #Believe #Christian #Heaven #Hope #Peace #Faith #Truth #Goodness #Kindness #Hospitality #Gentleness #Understanding #Unity #Love #One #Another #JEWISH #ALL #RELIGIONS #AND #ALL
ππποΈπ¦π©·π©΅ππ©π«Άπ«Άπ»π«ΆπΏπ©΄π©΄ππποΈπβ±οΈπ΄π€ΈπΏββοΈβΉπΏββοΈπβ½πΎππΏπΈππ€½πΏββοΈπ€ΎπΏββοΈπ΄πΏββοΈπ΅πΏββοΈππ£π¦π‘π πΌπΌπ’π€πππππΌββοΈ*DEAR BELOVED LOVING!*KIND!*PASSIONATE!*CURIOUS!*& EMPATHETIC FRIENDS I AM ENJOYING DRINKING MY FRENCH VANILLA COFFEE OUT ON THE FRONT PORCH WITH ALL GODβS CREATURES IN THE YARD FEEDING MY SPIRIT WITH GOOD!*& LOVING THINGS!π
#Christ #Jesus #TEACHING #Devotional #GOD #Holy #Spirit #Savior #Light #World #Pray #Believe #Christian #Heaven #Hope #Peace #Faith #Truth #Goodness #Kindness #Hospitality #Gentleness #Understanding #Unity #Love #One #Another
ππποΈπ¦π©·π©΅ππ©π«Άπ«Άπ»π«ΆπΏπ©΄π©΄ππποΈπβ±οΈπ΄π€ΈπΏββοΈβΉπΏββοΈπβ½πΎππΏπΈππ€½πΏββοΈπ€ΎπΏββοΈπ΄πΏββοΈπ΅πΏββοΈππ£π¦π‘π πΌπΌπ’π€πππππΌββοΈ*DEAR BELOVED LOVING!*KIND!*PASSIONATE!*CURIOUS!*& EMPATHETIC FRIENDS I LOVE YOU ALL!*& GOOD FRIDAY MORNING!ππ
#Christ #Jesus #TEACHING #FRIDAY #Devotional #GOD #Holy #Spirit #Savior #Light #World #Pray #Believe #Christian #Heaven #Hope #Peace #Faith #Truth #Goodness #Kindness #Caring #Hospitality #Helping #Others #Gentleness #Understanding #Unity #Love #One #Another #JEWISH #ALL #RELIGIONS #AND #ALL #PEOPLE #SAINTS #AND #SOON #TO #BE #SAINTS
ππποΈπ¦π©·π©΅ππ©π«Άπ«Άπ»π«ΆπΏπ©΄π©΄ππποΈπβ±οΈπ΄π€ΈπΏββοΈβΉπΏββοΈπβ½πΎππΏπΈππ€½πΏββοΈπ€ΎπΏββοΈπ΄πΏββοΈπ΅πΏββοΈππ£π¦π‘π πΌπΌπ’π€πππππΌββοΈ*DEAR BELOVED LOVING!*KIND!*PASSIONATE!*CURIOUS!*& EMPATHETIC FRIENDS AROUND THE WORLD I LOVE YOU ALL!*& GOOD FRIDAY MORNING!ππ
#Christ #Jesus #FRIDAY #Devotional #GOD #Holy #Spirit #Savior #Light #World #Pray #Believe #Christian #Heaven #Hope #Peace #Faith #Truth #Goodness #Kindness #Caring #Hospitality #Helping #Others #Gentleness #Everyone #Unity #Love #One #Another #JEWISH #ALL #RELIGIONS #AND #ALL #PEOPLE #SAINTS #AND #SOON #TO #BE #SAINTS
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A gorgeous bright colorful painting of a Hawaiian young woman decorated with a grass skirt and flowers dancing on the beach with beautiful crashing waves on shore and a stunning sky
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What comforts you when faced with life's stressors or standing amid a trail? From where or whom do you draw strength? Click or tap the link to read more.
#afaithfulsower #JesusIsLord #faith #dailydevotion
https://afaithfulsower.org/2026/07/17/your-rod-and-your-staff-they-comfort-me/
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Are you between 18 and 35 years old, and want to dive deeper into the Bible?
You're welcome to join our Young Adults Bible Study, every Sunday evening at 18:00.
For more information, email youth@bedfordviewmc.co.za
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A flyer from Bedfordview Methodist Church, advertising a Young Adults Bible Study every Sunday at 18:00 in the Upper Room. Text reads, "Are you 18 - 35? Join us weekly as we reflect, learn, and grow in faith as a community," followed by the venue and day and times, and an email address (youth@bedfordviewmc.co.za) to contact for more information. There are also photos of various people studying and discussing the Bible. The footer of the image contains the church's name, logo, and contact information.
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βBut now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.
β¦for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.β
ββRomansβ¬ β3β¬:β21β¬-β24β¬ βNIVUKβ¬β¬
#bible #faith
Thread 2 / End
The Worst Queen?
By Elizabeth Prata
Is it a tie between Jezebel and Athaliah? As bad as Jezebel was, perhaps Athaliah was worse!
Herbert Lockyer wrote a book called All the Women of the Bible. He opened his entry on Athaliah this way: “The Woman Who Was a Notorious Murderess”. You do not want the words notorious or murderess in your bio!
Athaliah’s story is mainly in 2 Chronicles 22; 23:13-21; 24:7. Guess who her parents were? Ahab and Jezebel.
Edith Deen also wrote a book called All the Women of the Bible (1955). Her entry states,
“Athaliah, the only woman ever to sit on the throne of David and rule, was the extreme in wickedness.”
“Evil ran in her veins. She was the granddaughter of Omri, who waded through slaughter to a throne he never inherited. She was the daughter of Ahab, the legitimate successor of his unscrupulous father, and of Jezebel, whose name is synonymous with wickedness. Reared in the northern kingdom of Israel, at Samaria, where the palace of her parents was surrounded by groves and idols of Baal worship, Athaliah grew up in an atmosphere that completely denied the one God. Because of the lewd cult worship of Baal, introduced by her mother, the kingdom was swept by immorality and godlessness.”
Unchecked, our inner depravity will always sink to new lows, and Baal worship is about as low as a person can get.
“Athaliah, probably for political expediency, was married to Jehoram, eldest son of the pious Jehoshaphat, king of Judah. She went with him to Jerusalem, capital of the southern kingdom. When he was thirty-two years old, he came to the throne, and Athaliah sat beside him. Just as her mother had done when she came to Samaria from Tyre, Athaliah promoted her Baal worship among the people.“
Stop doing that! But if a person doesn’t cling to the One True God, she will believe any other god, which are all satan.
“Jehoram reigned eight years and died unmourned of an incurable disease foretold by Elijah. The Philistines had captured all his secondary wives and sons, except Ahaziah, Athaliah’s own son, who now came to the throne. As queen-mother, Athaliah was more powerful than ever. Her son was young and she had had the experience of dictating through her husband. We have the record that Ahaziah “walked in the ways of the house of Ahab: for his mother was his counsellor to do wickedly” (2 Chronicles 22:3).”
“Within a year Athaliah’s son was wounded in his chariot by Jehu, commissioned by Elijah to overthrow the dynasty of Athaliah’s father. Her son escaped to Megiddo, where he died. Athaliah seized the throne and resolved to destroy “all the seed royal,” her own blood relations, among whom were her own grandchildren.”
All of us have murder in our soul. Our sin-nature makes any sin possible not only to contemplate but to perform. But it’s really hard to understand the killing one’s own family. Athaliah’s grasp for power was stronger than her natural feelings for her family.
Proverbs 21:4 says, Haughty eyes and a proud heartβthe guides of the wickedβare sin.
2 Timothy 3:1-4 says in the last days people will be be brutal and not care for their own family, as well as many other sinful and social ills.
After a few more murders, … “Athaliah seized the government. She ruled only six years before she was supplanted by Joash and killed. When the horses trampled over her body, which lay just inside her palace gates, her fate was not unlike that of her mother, Jezebel.“–end Edith Deen entry on Athaliah, 1955
An ignominious end to a murdering Baal worshiper.
Herbert Lockyer also wrote a book called “All the Women of the Bible”. His entry says,
“After putting to death her young grandsons, Athaliah reigned for six years, and was the only woman to reign as queen of Judah. The daughter of a king, wife of a king, mother of a king, she is now queen. While her husband reigned she was the powerΒ behindΒ the throneβnow she is the powerΒ onΒ the throne, and proof of her energy, forcefulness and ability are seen in the length of her reign.”
“A despotic ruler, her every gesture had to be obeyed. During her reign part of the Temple of Jehovah was pulled down and the material used in the building of a temple of Baal. But the God who overrules in the destinies of men and nations, intervened to redeem His promise of a Saviour from the tribe of Judah.”
Β Dr. Robert G. Lee summed up Athaliah’s murderous career,
Her very name is an execration. She put the whole nation under the shadow of a great horror. She trampled on all faith. She violated all obligation. She lived with the shrieks of those she butchered in her ears. She lived with her hands red with the blood of princes and princesses. She died, frantic with rage, with the accusation of Treason on her lips. She died in the barnyard under the battleaxes of an aroused people.
Wow. Athaliah was so evil. As we read through these passages in the Bible let us reflect on the monumental sacrifice of Jesus to die for our sins- even sins as evil as Athaliah’s – and to bring repentant sinners to His bosom. If Athaliah had repented she would have been accepted. The evil deeds of the worst person in the world can never outpace the Lord’s grace. His grace extends to the ends of the earth to all those who will come to Him. He will not cast them out. (John 6:37).
And we all need Him. Athaliah is a prime example of where unfettered sin will lead a person. In Romans 7:24 Paul famously said- Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?
O, to be acutely aware of our own sin but not know the relief of it, as Charles Spurgeon and John Bunyan did in their years before coming to the blessed arms of the Savior! O, worse never to be aware of one’s own sin and wallow in it to the death and be cast into perpetual hell!
Mortify the sin that remains in us after salvation by repenting of our remaining sins, and repenting often.
Even at that, God allowed an evil such as an Athaliah to rise and kill. His divine sovereignty was demonstrated that though the evil queen killed off her grandchildren, God’s covenant with David was preserved by the fact that one grandchild was hidden- Joash. He survived Athaliah’s reign and ascended the throne, just as God had promised that the Davidic line would continue.
God also allowed this evil period to continue to demonstrate not only that He is committed to His promises, which cannot be thwarted, but to allow the evil to run the people back to Him, for which Priest Jehoiada eventually was the catalyst. In 2 Chronicles 23:1 the priest had had enough, “Now in the seventh year, Jehoiada gathered his courage,”… Jehoiada was the Priest of Judah who orchestrated the coup to overthrow Athaliah and put Joash, the rightful heir in the line of David, on the throne.
Takeaways:
-Keep after that sin in our life by repenting, staying in the word, and prayer,
-Remember that without Jesus, our own sin could run to similar depths of depravity as Athaliah’s. Never say ‘oh that could never happen to me’. Before salvation we were the devil’s child, capable of anything,
-Marvel at God’s sovereignty in keeping His promises across years, decades, and centuries! He is the Author of History and cannot be overruled,
-Be lavish with praise for Jesus throughout the day and at night when you lay down. His life, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension is monumental beyond compare.
Further Resources
Edith Deen, All the Women of the Bible (in Web Archive Library)
The End Time- I wrote about Athaliah 12 years ago, with a different emphasis:
https://the-end-time.org/2014/01/29/athaliah-the-only-queen-of-judah/
#Athaliah #bible #christianity #evil #faith #judahπππππππ*DEAR Heavenly Father!*Creator of all things!*thank You SO VERY MUCH for all that You provide for me!*& for all of Your creation each day!*& I especially thank You FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!*& SOUL for providing my forgiveness!*& salvation through Your Son!*Jesus Christ!*In CHRIST JESUS name I pray!*Amen!π«ππππππ«
#Christ #Jesus #GOD #Holy #Spirit #Savior #Light #World #Believe #Christian #Heaven #Hope #Peace #Faith #Truth #Goodness #Unity #PRAYER #Love #One #Another #CREATION
πππππππ*DEAR Heavenly Father!*Creator of all things!*thank You SO VERY MUCH for all that You provide for me!*& for all of Your creation each day!*& I especially thank You FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!*& SOUL for providing my forgiveness!*& salvation through Your Son!*Jesus Christ!*In CHRIST JESUS name I pray!*Amen!π«ππππππ«
#Christ #Jesus #GOD #Holy #Spirit #Savior #Light #World #Believe #Christian #Heaven #Hope #Peace #Faith #Truth #Goodness #Unity #PRAYER #Love #One #Another #CREATION
πππππππ*DEAR Heavenly Father!*Creator of all things!*thank You SO VERY MUCH for all that You provide for me!*& for all of Your creation each day!*& I especially thank You FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!*& SOUL for providing my forgiveness!*& salvation through Your Son!*Jesus Christ!*In CHRIST JESUS name I pray!*Amen!π«ππππππ«
#Christ #Jesus #GOD #Holy #Spirit #Savior #Light #World #Believe #Christian #Heaven #Hope #Peace #Faith #Truth #Goodness #Unity #PRAYER #Love #One #Another #CREATION
πππππππ*DEAR Heavenly Father!*Creator of all things!*thank You SO VERY MUCH for all that You provide for me!*& for all of Your creation each day!*& I especially thank You FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!*& SOUL for providing my forgiveness!*& salvation through Your Son!*Jesus Christ!*In CHRIST JESUS name I pray!*Amen!π«ππππππ«
#Christ #Jesus #GOD #Holy #Spirit #Savior #Light #World #Believe #Christian #Heaven #Hope #Peace #Faith #Truth #Goodness #Unity #PRAYER #Love #One #Another #CREATION
πππππππ*DEAR Heavenly Father!*Creator of all things!*thank You SO VERY MUCH for all that You provide for me!*& for all of Your creation each day!*& I especially thank You FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!*& SOUL for providing my forgiveness!*& salvation through Your Son!*Jesus Christ!*In CHRIST JESUS name I pray!*Amen!π«ππππππ«
#Christ #Jesus #GOD #Holy #Spirit #Savior #Light #World #Believe #Christian #Heaven #Hope #Peace #Faith #Truth #Goodness #Unity #PRAYER #Love #One #Another #CREATION
πππππππ*DEAR Heavenly Father!*Creator of all things!*thank You SO VERY MUCH for all that You provide for me!*& for all of Your creation each day!*& I especially thank You FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!*& SOUL for providing my forgiveness!*& salvation through Your Son!*Jesus Christ!*In CHRIST JESUS name I pray!*Amen!π«ππππππ«
#Christ #Jesus #GOD #Holy #Spirit #Savior #Light #World #Believe #Christian #Heaven #Hope #Peace #Faith #Truth #Goodness #Unity #PRAYER #Love #One #Another #CREATION
πππππππ*DEAR Heavenly Father!*Creator of all things!*thank You SO VERY MUCH for all that You provide for me!*& for all of Your creation each day!*& I especially thank You FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!*& SOUL for providing my forgiveness!*& salvation through Your Son!*Jesus Christ!*In CHRIST JESUS name I pray!*Amen!π«ππππππ«
#Christ #Jesus #GOD #Holy #Spirit #Savior #Light #World #Believe #Christian #Heaven #Hope #Peace #Faith #Truth #Goodness #Unity #PRAYER #Love #One #Another #CREATION
πππππππ*DEAR Heavenly Father!*Creator of all things!*thank You SO VERY MUCH for all that You provide for me!*& for all of Your creation each day!*& I especially thank You FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!*& SOUL for providing my forgiveness!*& salvation through Your Son!*Jesus Christ!*In CHRIST JESUS name I pray!*Amen!π«ππππππ«
#Christ #Jesus #GOD #Holy #Spirit #Savior #Light #World #Believe #Christian #Heaven #Hope #Peace #Faith #Truth #Goodness #Unity #PRAYER #Love #One #Another #CREATION
πππππππ*DEAR Heavenly Father!*Creator of all things!*thank You SO VERY MUCH for all that You provide for me!*& for all of Your creation each day!*& I especially thank You FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!*& SOUL for providing my forgiveness!*& salvation through Your Son!*Jesus Christ!*In CHRIST JESUS name I pray!*Amen!π«ππππππ«
#Christ #Jesus #GOD #Holy #Spirit #Savior #Light #World #Believe #Christian #Heaven #Hope #Peace #Faith #Truth #Goodness #Unity #PRAYER #Love #One #Another #CREATION
The Hardest Prayer Youβll EverΒ Pray
Praying for the hurting is one thing... Praying for those who have hurt us is something else entirely. Yet that's exactly what Jesus calls us to do. today's Gem: "Pray for your enemies. They may turn from their evil ways, and so may you." Praying for our enemies may be one of the hardest things Jesus asks us to do. But maybe that's because He isn't only interested in changing their heart... He's changing ours too.π β¨Click to read the full devotional [SENSITIVE CONTENT]
Todayβs One Year Bible Verses: 1 Chronicles 22:1β23:32, Romans 3:9β31, Psalm 12:1β8, Proverbs 19:13β14
Pray For Your Enemies
One of the beautiful ways God teaches us is through repetition.
When He keeps bringing the same truth before us, it is often because He is inviting us to move beyond simply hearing it and begin living it.
For the past week, the Lord has been gently turning our attention away from ourselves and toward those who are hurting. Day after day, He has reminded us to see the broken, show compassion, love faithfully, and stand in the gap through prayer.
Then today…
He raises the bar.
“Pray for your enemies. They may turn from their evil ways, and so may you. Amen.”
I’ll admit, my first thought was, “Ooof…”
It’s one thing to pray for people we love. It’s another to pray for people we don’t know. But praying for those who have wounded us, lied about us, rejected us, or treated us unfairlyβthat requires a work of God in our hearts.
Perhaps that’s exactly the point.
Notice what the Gem says. It doesn’t only say they may turn from their evil ways.
It also says “…and so may you.”
Sometimes we assume the greatest problem is the other person’s sin. Yet while they may be struggling with anger, pride, bitterness, or deception, we can quietly begin wrestling with resentment, unforgiveness, self-righteousness, or a desire for revenge.
God cares about both hearts.
In today’s reading, Paul reminds us of a truth that levels the ground beneath every one of us:
“For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.”
βΒ Romans 3:23 (NLT)
There are no “good people” and “bad people” standing before God. There are only sinners in need of grace.
That doesn’t excuse evil, nor does it mean we ignore wisdom or healthy boundaries. But it does remind us that the same mercy that rescued us is the mercy God desires to extend to others.
David understood this perspective throughout much of his life. Although he certainly defended himself against evil, he repeatedly refused to take vengeance into his own hands. He trusted God to judge righteously while continuing to seek the Lord.
Psalm 12 reminds us that God sees every act of injustice.
“The LORD replies, ‘I have seen violence done to the helpless, and I have heard the groans of the poor. Now I will rise up to rescue them, as they have longed for me to do.'”
βΒ Psalm 12:5 (NLT)
Because God sees perfectly, we don’t have to carry the burden of revenge.
Instead, we can pray.
Not because our enemies deserve it.
Because we didn’t deserve God’s mercy either.
Imagine what could happen if the person who hurt you genuinely encountered Jesus. Imagine if bitterness gave way to repentance, pride became humility, and hatred was transformed into love. Isn’t that exactly what happened in each of our own lives?
Prayer doesn’t always change the other person immediately.
But it almost always changes the one who is praying.
It softens our hearts, reminds us of the grace we’ve received, and helps us entrust justice to the One who judges perfectly.
Perhaps the greatest miracle begins long before our enemy changes.
Perhaps it begins when our own heart becomes more like Christ’s. π
Action (5 Minutes with God)
Take 5 minutes to be with the Lord today. Ask Him:
- βLord, what do You want me to know about this personally?β
- Journal what He gives you through His Holy Spirit.
- Then ask, βWhat do You want me to do?β
- Journal what He reveals βΒ then do it!
Allow the Lord to guide you today and transform your heart and free you from any hurt or bitterness that may be lingering.
Prayer
Father, this is not an easy prayer, but I know Your ways are higher than mine. Thank You for showing me mercy when I didn’t deserve it. Help me extend that same mercy to those who have hurt me. I pray that You would reveal Yourself to my enemies, draw them to repentance, and transform their hearts through Your love. At the same time, search my own heart. Remove any bitterness, resentment, pride, or unforgiveness that keeps me from becoming more like Jesus. Teach me to trust You with justice while responding with grace. In Jesus’ name, amen.
To read more 5 Minutes with God devotionals click here.
If Gems of Knowledge has blessed your walk with Christ, please subscribe or consider partnering with us today. Your gift helps keep these devotionals free for everyone and carries Godβs Word to more hearts. Every seed mattersβthank you for sowing into this work! π
Test everything by the Word and the Spirit (John 16:13)
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Jesus stands compassionately between two people who are facing away from one another in obvious tension. Neither person is looking at Him as the warm light of sunset surrounds the peaceful scene, symbolizing Christ's invitation to reconciliation, forgiveness, and grace.
πππππππ*DEAR Heavenly Father!*Creator of all things!*thank You SO VERY MUCH for all that You provide for me!*& for all of Your creation each day!*& I especially thank You FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!*& SOUL for providing my forgiveness!*& salvation through Your Son!*Jesus Christ!*In CHRIST JESUS name I pray!*Amen!π«ππππππ«
#Christ #Jesus #GOD #Holy #Spirit #Savior #Light #World #Believe #Christian #Heaven #Hope #Peace #Faith #Truth #Goodness #Unity #PRAYER #Love #One #Another #CREATION
πππππππ*DEAR Heavenly Father!*Creator of all things!*thank You SO VERY MUCH for all that You provide for me!*& for all of Your creation each day!*& I especially thank You FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!*& SOUL for providing my forgiveness!*& salvation through Your Son!*Jesus Christ!*In CHRIST JESUS name I pray!*Amen!π«ππππππ«
#Christ #Jesus #GOD #Holy #Spirit #Savior #Light #World #Believe #Christian #Heaven #Hope #Peace #Faith #Truth #Goodness #Unity #PRAYER #Love #One #Another #CREATION
πππππππ*DEAR Heavenly Father!*Creator of all things!*thank You SO VERY MUCH for all that You provide for me!*& for all of Your creation each day!*& I especially thank You FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!*& SOUL for providing my forgiveness!*& salvation through Your Son!*Jesus Christ!*In CHRIST JESUS name I pray!*Amen!π«ππππππ«
#Christ #Jesus #GOD #Holy #Spirit #Savior #Light #World #Believe #Christian #Heaven #Hope #Peace #Faith #Truth #Goodness #Unity #PRAYER #Love #One #Another #CREATION
