Category: Daily Bread

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Turning A Cheek

38 You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. ~ Matthew 5:38-42

Turning the other cheek is one of the hardest teachings in the commands of Jesus. It forces you to completely deny and crucify your flesh. Your flesh wants to defend itself. It wants to get revenge. We can see this from the very beginning. Repaying evil for evil, with no restraint. This was the purpose of the Law of Moses.

God began reigning in the flesh by confining revenge to “an eye for an eye” and “a tooth for a tooth,” so that no one would take a life for an eye without facing punishment again. God was preparing us for His final Law “turn the other cheek.”

See, we are called to be the Light of the World. The World hates us, because it hates Christ whom we represent. Therefore, in order to reach the world, we must not act like the world. The world doesn’t fight fair. It’s manipulative, deceptive, and wicked. If we give into our natural urges to slap back and get revenge the world will respond. It will call us out. It will hold us to a standard it dare not hold itself to.

So, what are we to do? Turn the other cheek. Fight your natural instinct. How? Remind yourself that no revenge can compare to the vengeance of the LORD God Almighty. So, be different. Be Christ to the world.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Turn A Cheek.

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Help Carry Their Burden

Romans 5:5b

“…because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”

By the grace of God, we are now no longer weak or powerless, but rather, we have been empowered by the pouring out of the Holy Spirit into our hearts.

We are to love others as Christ has loved us. We are to be Christ to the world. How? Christ stepped in at our moment of helplessness. In other words, when we were weak, when we were powerless, Christ stepped in to help us. Therefore, we are to help others when they are weak.

We are to bear each other’s burdens. How? Through prayer, fasting, and worship together. Through being the shoulder to lean or cry on. We all need someone to help us at some point, therefore, we should always be willing to be that help for someone else.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Help Carry Their Burden. 

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Don’t Write Off

John 3:16-17,

[16]  For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. [17] For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.

Have you noticed that in comics, movies, books, etc, that no villain was born evil? Each villain had just one really catastrophic, life-changing event that they couldn’t come back from. One tragedy that consumed them. The Joker, in The Batman (2004 animated series), famously said:

All it takes is one really rough day to reduce the sanest man alive to lunacy. That’s how far the world is from where I am. Just one really rough day.

As Christians, it’s extremely difficult to write people off as just a nuisance, useless, or a villain. It’s easy to just look at them as a hopeless cause not even worth trying to help. But this isn’t the message of the Gospel, this is the lies of the enemy.

No one is born a monster. Monsters are created by consuming circumstances. In the world, it is hopeless, but with Christ nothing is impossible. He breaks every chain. He frees every jailed soul. The world may see a hopeless, useless, villain, but God sees a soul He has created for a purpose.

Therefore, don’t look at people without compassion. Don’t label them as the world does. Share with them the love of God in hope that a seed may be planted and grow into a tree of faith.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Don’t Write Off.

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Honoring Sacrifice, Finding Strength

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends (John 15:13).

On this Memorial Day, we pause to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice, giving their lives in service to others. Their courage reflects a profound truth Jesus spoke in John 15:13—there is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for others. This holiday invites us to reflect not only on the sacrifices of service members but also on the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who gave His life for our salvation. Both remind us that love, at its core, is selfless and sacrificial.

As we remember those who died for our freedom, we’re also called to consider how we live in response to such sacrifices. The freedoms we enjoy—whether to worship, to love, or to pursue our purpose—come at a cost that someone else paid. Similarly, the spiritual freedom we have through Christ’s sacrifice calls us to live with gratitude and purpose. Yet, living out this calling can be challenging. We may feel weary from daily struggles, uncertain about the future, or overwhelmed by division in our world. In these moments, we can draw strength from God’s presence, just as Isaiah 40:31 promises: those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength, soaring like eagles, running without weariness, walking without fainting.

Memorial Day is a time to honor, but also to recommit. How can we honor the fallen and Christ’s sacrifice all at the same time? It might be through acts of service, praying for peace, or extending love to those around us. But either way, it commands us to do something, say something, and be the light. As we place our hope in God, He equips us to live lives that reflect gratitude for both earthly and eternal sacrifices. Today, let’s hold space for remembrance and ask God to renew our strength to love sacrificially, as He does.

Father, thank You for placing me exactly where I was born and where I am now. It is because of Your grace and Your mercy that I heard the Good News of Hope in Jesus Christ Your Son. Thank You for Your grace and Your mercy, for without it, where would we be? Thank You for the freedom that we have in Christ, in Jesus’ mighty name I pray, amen.

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Honoring The Price of Freedom

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us … (Romans 5:6-11).

As we approach Memorial Day, we pause to honor two profound sacrifices: the death of Jesus Christ for our spiritual freedom and the lives of brave soldiers for our national freedom. Romans 5 reminds us that Christ died for us when we were weak, helpless, and even enemies of God. His love didn’t wait for us to be worthy—it met us in our brokenness. Similarly, our fallen heroes laid down their lives not for a perfect nation, but for the hope of freedom, justice, and a better future for all.

These sacrifices come at a great cost. Jesus gave His life to reconcile us to God, securing our eternal freedom from sin and judgment. Soldiers gave their lives to protect our nation, leaving behind families who carry the weight of their loss daily. Freedom—spiritual and earthly—is never free. It demands gratitude, responsibility, and action.

Yet, we see challenges today that dishonor these sacrifices: injustice, misuse of resources, and neglect of veterans and the vulnerable. As believers, we’re called to honor Christ and our fallen heroes not just with words, but by living out their values—standing for truth, caring for the hurting, and uniting in love against division.

Father, thank You for Your great love, that while we were still sinners, You sent Your Son Jesus Christ to die for us. Thank You that we can enjoy freedom in Him. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

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Bear

John 15:1-6

[1]  “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. [2] Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. [3] Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. [4] Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. [5] I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. [6] If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.

Jesus isn’t talking about the world when He refers to the branches that will be cut off. Jesus is talking about the Church. Jesus is the True Vine and we are the branches. If we bear fruit, the Father will prune us, so that we might bear more fruit, but if we don’t bear fruit, then He will cut us off and throw us away.

What fruit is Jesus talking about?

Galatians 5:22-23

[22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

If we don’t bear these fruit then we cannot remain in Christ. We are called to bear all of these fruit, but at the very minimum, we are called to bear love. If we don’t bear love, then we do not have the Holy Spirit dwelling within us.

Love is the foundation for every other fruit, and is the fruit absolutely required in order to remain in Christ. Therefore, don’t be deceived by man-made doctrines, we must work in Christ if we are to remain in Christ. The gift of salvation is free to everyone who believes but to continue in the faith means you must do more than believe. You must change. You must bear fruit.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Bear.

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Let Hope Fuel You

Mark 5:25-29

[25] And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, [26] and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. [27] She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. [28] For she said, “If I touch even His garments, I will be made well.” [29] And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease.

You know what blows my mind about this story? She didn’t speak. She didn’t ask. She didn’t scream. Shout. Beg. Cry out. Nothing. She simply reached out in hope. She hoped with all that was in her. She didn’t know Let Hope Fuel You if it would work, yet she still tried.

Her faith was in her action powered by her hope. Sometimes we may not even fully believe it will work, but as long as we reach out in hope that little mustard seed of faith will be rewarded.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Let Hope Fuel You.

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A Forgiving Heart

27 But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. 32 If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for He is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. ~ Luke 6:27-36

For the past year I have been selling items on eBay. For the most part it’s been good and I do enjoy doing it, but every now and then I have to deal with a scammer. People, who instead of getting a job and actually working hard try to scam hard working people out of their hard earned money.

It’s so easy to angry and want to wish bad things upon these kinds of people because they deserve it. Then I’m reminded of two things.

  1. I deserve Hell just as much as them because I sin constantly. My nature is evil. The only difference between me and them is Jesus Christ has delivered me, sanctified me, and changed my heart so that my conscience will not allow me to continue in my sin blatantly. Instead, when I do slip up, I repent, and strive to not do it again.
  2. No matter what evil I could with upon them, nothing can bring forth justice and vengeance like the LORD God, who says that vengeance is His. And He will repay. That says that He will defend us. That says that He is the final Judge whom all the world will have to stand before on that last day and give an account to.

It’s easy to become angry and want an immediate judgment against blatantly wicked people. Why? Because your flesh wants to get even. It wants to see those who have harmed you or tried to harm you put in their place. It’s filled with pride convincing you that the you are better than others, when in reality it’s not that you’re better than others, but that the God dwelling in you and through you is.

Dear LORD, please forgive me for speaking evil against those who are still in their wickedness being used by the devil. Please forgive me for wanting (or speaking) a curse of any kind against someone who has done evil to me. Please forgive me and change my heart. Give me a new heart that is soft and loving. One quick to forgive and understand. One that loves the way You love and is humble before You. I pray that You would renew a right spirit within me so that I might have a conscience guiding me into Your righteousness. I pray that You would have mercy on all whole have wronged me and soften their heart so that they might repent and turn from their evil ways and run to You. Keep me in Your arms and safe in the shadow of Your wings. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

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Seek Refuge In Him

1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. ~ Psalms 46:1

The Psalmist encourages us that no matter what is going on in our lives, we’re not alone because God is our refuge and strength. A lot of the time it may feel as if the entire world is crashing in on you and you can’t keep going. It may feel like all Hell has broken loose against you and you have no defense. It may feel like you have a target on your back and nowhere to hide. But these are just the feelings the Devil and his kingdom throw at you so that they can overcome you. Why?

Because if they can get you to believe you are defeated, then you’ll give up, give in, and allow them to win. The enemy has no victory over us unless we choose not to fight. Not to keep going. Not to try.

Each day is a new opportunity from God to try again. To keep going. To overcome. Don’t allow the enemy to discourage you. Don’t allow his lies to pollute, corrupt, and overwhelm your soul. Your God is for you, so who can be against you?

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Seek Refuge In Him.

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Mature

Hebrews 5:12-14 ESV

[12] For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, [13] for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. [14] But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

Christianity is many things but it’s not about easing your conscience. So, what’s it about then? It’s all about growing and maturing in the things of God, making disciples, and equipping the saints for good works.

We have the greatest heritage ever, because we have the LORD Jesus, and He has given us His Holy Spirit. And has endued us with power from on high!

We are Spirit-filled! Water baptized and running for our lives!

That is what gave Jesus the confidence to say, “…All things are possible for one who believes (Mark 9:23b). Therefore, don’t continue on milk. Strive to grow. Seek out the meat of the Word.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Mature. 

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