“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”
‭‭James‬ ‭1:17‬ ‭ESV‬‬

What if we truly approached every good thing in our lives as a gift from our Father in Heaven who loves us with an overwhelming love?

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“...bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3:13‬ ‭ESV‬‬

What is Biblical forgiveness? And why is it so important? Does forgiveness excuse the offender or mean that we put ourselves in a position to be hurt again? Or could forgiveness actually be as simple us trusting our Heavenly Father?

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“But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you...”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5:44‬ ‭ESV‬‬

In the ancient world, it was believed that idols were physical placeholders for the gods to indwell on earth. Israel, however, was forbidden to craft any of these imagers, because the Bible teaches that humanity was created to be the One God’s imagers on earth. What does this have to do with loving your enemies?

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“Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope...”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭5:3-4‬ ‭ESV‬‬

When we are facing suffering, the last thing we think of is that we should rejoice in it. We want desperately for God to take us out of it. But God rarely does. Why? Because the goal of suffering is to bring us to a place of deeper hope in the love that God has for us.

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“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭1:9‬ ‭ESV‬‬

The purpose of confession is not the avoidance of judgment and punishment. Confession allows Christ to cleanse us from our sins, so that we are free to draw closer to the presence of our perfect and holy God. And this was the very reason we were created.

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“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭43:2‬ ‭ESV‬‬

How can we know for certain that this promise is true? That in the midst of trials and tribulations, God will be faithful to bring us through?

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“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:18‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Paul was a man who suffered beyond our mind’s ability to comprehend. He was whipped, shipwrecked, imprisoned, and attacked repeatedly. Yet he never lost hope. This is because he focused his heart and mind on the Kingdom to come, not on the broken world we live in now.

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“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:33‬ ‭ESV‬‬

It’s not natural to be Kingdom-minded when it comes to our earthly needs. We want what we want. But Jesus teaches us that we have to take our focus off of our needs and desires, and place them on His Kingdom and mission for our lives. Until we do that, He never promises to bless us.

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“Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love,”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭33:18‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Our God is unique from the gods of this world. He defines Himself in a very specific way, and then literally moves Heaven and Earth to prove that He is who He says He is. Make no mistake - He is God alone and has no obligation to answer to anyone. But He is also love. And we can trust Him.

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“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:29‬ ‭ESV‬‬

I’ve heard it taught that everything we say should be filtered through these 3 questions: Is it true? Is it necessary? Is it kind? Paul seems to teach the same idea. But he also mentions a few other principles we should apply in our communication with others.

Let’s talk about it!