Pocket Thoughts - 5/10/24
God * is our salvation * calls to the heart of the prodigal with mercy and forgiveness * posts over His people watchmen to remind them to be vigilant.
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Belief without deeds is not belief. True faith stirs our hearts to act in obedience to the God we love by the power of His Holy Spirit. Our deeds don’t save us, but they do confirm Who we belong to and the authenticity of our faith. Even demons know who Jesus is – but they don’t obey Him. - TV
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God mightily opposes evil, wickedness, and most especially, enemies of His people. God is able to destroy them in His own strength and power, acting in perfect justice against them. Stand with Him against injustice and evil with full confidence that He will avenge all wrongs. – TV
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All-knowing God, You see into the recesses of my heart. You discern my motives – both pure and impure – far better than I myself am able to discern. Lord, You see through me, and Your Holy Spirit convicts me when I rationalize my sin. I admit the discomfort of being “found out” (although You’ve known all along), but I’m grateful that You know me and love me enough to root out unrighteousness from my soul. Thank You for the work You take on to change me into the likeness of Your Son. I’m quite the project! Your love transforms, and one day, 1 John 3:2 will be true of myself and the family of all believers: “…We know that when (Jesus) appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” Looking forward to that day, Lord. Praying with great anticipation in the beautiful Name of Jesus, amen. – TV
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When you’re in distress, remember what God did for the Israelites. He saw their misery, heard them crying out, was concerned for them, came to their rescue, brought them out, and sent a deliverer to lead them to freedom. God’s character never changes. He’ll do those same things for you. – TV
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“The most unlearned of men become ripe scholars in the school of grace when the Lord Jesus by His Holy Spirit unfolds the mysteries of the kingdom to them and grants the divine anointing by which they are enabled to behold the invisible. Happy are we if we have had our understandings cleared and strengthened by the Master! How many men of profound learning are ignorant of eternal things!” – Charles Spurgeon
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“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.” – 1 Corinthians 13:1-3
