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A few years ago, our church hosted refugees fleeing their country because of a change in political leadership. Entire families came with only what they could fit in a small bag. Several of our church families opened their homes, some with little room to spare.

Such gracious hospitality echoes God’s command to the Israelites before they inhabited the promised land. As an agricultural society, they understood the importance of the harvest. Every bit of food would be essential to get them through until next year’s harvest. God told the Israelites when harvesting not to go back to retrieve what they may have missed. “Leave it for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow” (Deuteronomy 24:19). They were to practice generosity not by giving when they knew they had enough but by giving out of a heart of trusting in God’s provision “so that God could bless the work of their hands” (v. 19). God always has enough.

The practice of hospitality also reminded them that they had been “slaves in Egypt” (v. 22). While we may not have experienced such oppression, we’ve all experienced being an outsider or being in need. As we give to others, we do well to remember our most basic need: freedom from our sin. “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

When we’re hospitable, we celebrate our generous God who “loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).

The post Rev. Art Larson – Obedience appeared first on MGO Radio/Canada's National Bible Hour.

Read: John 13:3-10; 1 John 1:5-9

“Hudson!” Mom’s voice startled him as he stepped into the kitchen. “Look at your shoes!” Hudson looked down at his feet and then at the trail of mud behind him. “How did your shoes get so dirty?” Mom asked.

Hudson shrugged. “I was just outside.”

“Well, please go back outside and clean off your shoes.”

A few minutes later, Hudson came back, and he and Mom wiped up the dirt. “I’m sorry, Mom,” Hudson said.

Mom smiled. “No harm done. I know it was an accident. It’s pretty easy to get dirt on your shoes without knowing it, isn’t it?”

Hudson nodded. “I still don’t know how they got so dirty.”

“Well, at least it was just mud—not sin,” Mom said. Hudson looked puzzled. “Getting your shoes dirty with mud is a little like getting your life dirty with sin,” Mom explained. “We talked about that at church this morning, remember? Sometimes you don’t even think about what you’re doing, and then you suddenly realize that something you’ve done wasn’t right.”

“Does that ever happen to you?” asked Hudson.

“Yes. When I mess up, it’s like my life has gotten dirty with sin. And do you know what I have to do then? To get clean again?”

Hudson thought about it. “Jesus would have to clean up the sin, wouldn’t He?”

“That’s right,” Mom replied. “He promises to clean away any sin from our lives when we confess it and ask for forgiveness.”

Hudson frowned. “Does that mean every time I sin, I’m not saved anymore until I say I’m sorry and ask for forgiveness?”

Mom shook her head. “No, Hudson. Because we’ve trusted Jesus to save us, we belong to Him, and nothing we do could ever separate us from Him. We’ll always be His children—just like you’ll always be my child, even when you have dirty shoes. When we realize we’ve been tracking sin around, we need Him to wash it away.”

Hudson smiled. “I’m glad Jesus will always forgive me when my life gets dirty with sin—just like you forgave me for tracking mud in the kitchen!”

–Richard S. Maffeo

How about you? Have you done something that’s gotten your life dirty with sin? Even though Jesus has already saved you from sin if you trust in Him, you’ll still struggle with it in your daily life until He comes back and gets rid of sin once and for all. When you sin, confess it to Him right away to keep it from getting in the way of living the way He wants you to. He’ll forgive you and make you clean!

Today's Key Verse: Completely wash away my guilt and cleanse me from my sin. Psalm 51:2 (CSB)

Today's Key Thought: Confess sin and be clean

It's astonishing how technology (smartphones, tablets, laptops, GPS, etc.) has influenced our lives--for both good and bad? So, would it surprise you to know that "technology" shows up in the Bible and plays a vital role in God's story? In this Discover the Word study, the group explores several stories where technology plays a role. And as we study those passages together, we may find wisdom and freedom for how to use tech well in our modern world to draw us closer to God and others. 

WAYS TO LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE:

On our website: https://www.discovertheword.org
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Spotify: https://go.odb.org/dtwspotify
Amazon Music: https://amzn.to/3D9Tttv
YouTube Music:  https://go.odb.org/yt-music-playlist
YouTube: https://bit.ly/3E8LFdz
LOOKING FOR MORE EPISODES of the Discover the Word Podcast? Listen and subscribe wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts

Brenda and Eddie got in the car and began their Thursday evening ritual. “Where would you like to eat?” “Oh, Eddie, I don’t care, anywhere is fine, really.” Eddie’s been here before. “Okay, how about The Windmill?” Brenda bristles, “No, anywhere but there!” Eddie sighs. “So where then?” Brenda insists, “Really, anywhere is fine.”

It’s the stuff of comedy sketches, humorous from a distance because we know how maddening it is in the moment.

Sometimes it can be that way in our prayer lives too. We’re too vague. In contrast, the prayer in Daniel 9 reveals Daniel boldly saying what he wants. First, he confesses the sins of his people: “We have sinned and done wrong” (v. 5). Then he makes his requests. “Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant” (v. 17). “Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act” (v. 19). God owed nothing to Daniel, but such was Daniel’s trust in God’s “great mercy” (v. 18) that he felt free to bring the full weight of his desires.

It’s always right to pray “not as I will but as you will,” as Jesus prayed to His Father the night before He was crucified (Matthew 26:39). But there are also times when saying what we want is the way forward. God honors our boldness when we come before Him with repentant hearts. So be bold, pray what’s on your heart, and entrust it to the God of great mercy.

On the frozen fields of Flanders, 1914, war’s brutality silenced hope—until a single carol broke through. On Christmas Day, enemies became brothers, sharing songs and peace in No Man’s Land. But could this fragile truce withstand the dawn? Discover the miracle of courage, faith, and the light of hope all on the next Unshackled!

One of the most challenging stages of parenting is transitioning to the empty-nest season, especially when our adult children make decisions we disagree with. Mary DeMuth guides us on this journey of finding joy regardless of our wayward adult kids, sharing practical and spiritual tips on how to stay connected with children who have left the Christian faith.

Love, Pray, Listen

7 Traits of Effective Parenting Assessment

Special Edition Morgan Weistling Print

Mary DeMuth’s Prayer Cards for Adult Children

If you enjoyed listening to Focus on the Family Weekend, please give us your feedback.

How do you help your teenager tame their anger and deal with the drama in their lives? On this Building Relationships with Dr. Gary Chapman, he’ll be joined by Dr. Jennifer Thomas to help you guide your teen through conflict. With the proper tools, teens can learn to respond to conflict and deepen their relationships instead of spiraling into isolation, anger, and broken friendships. Get some help on Building Relationships with Gary Chapman.

Featured resource: A Teen's Guide to Conflict

Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/buildingrelationships

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