Category: Daily Bread

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Return With Love

Matthew 5:44-48 ESV

[44] But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, [45] so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. [46] For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? [47] And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? [48] You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

I recently came across a short of a woman insulting the Church, right after playing a video with the caption “First time at a Mega Church Baptism.” The video showed a large pool with a huge crowd watching and performers around the pool. Now, if you actually pay attention to the video, you’ll see this isn’t a baptism or even a church at all. Or even on land for that matter. It’s a cruise ship. A Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship. It’s the Aquadome where they have water performances.

She made comments with other Christ haters about how the Church should be taxed. And how it took her three days to find words. Now, when people pointed out it’s not a church, but it’s one of Royal Caribbean cruise ships, it was just silence. No response. No acknowledgement. Nothing.

Imagine hating someone that you don’t believe even exists so much that you hate the people who do believe. Hate them so much so that you’d go as far as to lie on them for absolutely no reason and feed your 77k followers the lies, as you instigate. That to me is just crazy. Imagine making your entire personality about how you don’t believe someone or something doesn’t actually exist. That right there isn’t unbelief. That is called hatred.

Hatred is something that will consume you from the inside out. It’ll make you lie in order to get others to hate as well. It will blind you from any and everything that could possibly show you the error of your ways. It’s a stronghold that is only able to be broken through one and one alone, Jesus.

When I first saw the video, I’ll be honest my Great-Great Grandmother wanted to come out in me and I immediately thought, “Keep that same energy when you gotta stand before the LORD God Himself on Judgment Day.” That isn’t a Christian response though. It’s just responding to hatred with hatred. Which is easy. It’s what the flesh wants to do. But it’s not what we are called to do. We are called to do more than that.

We’re called to return hatred with love. Evil with good. Curses with blessings. It’s not an easy call. It goes against everything we are. The only way we can do it, is through Christ. We have to be filled with His love. Therefore, cast down every thought and hold them captive to obey Christ because we are called to be more.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Return With Love.

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Pay Attention To The Little Things

Matthew 5:23-24

23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Interesting how our brains tend to focus on the little things in life. The little things that people say or do to/for us. It’s those moments that tend to really stick with us. That shape is. Yes, big things impact us, a lot, but for some reason the little things really seem to stick with us even more.

I think maybe because it’s the regular, everyday little things that make us who we are. That shape our relationships. Define our personalities. It’s not the big extravagant things that happen every single day, but the little things that seems to be build up and make more of an impression in our minds and memories.

Jesus said something profound, if your brother has something against you leave your offering at the altar and go and make it right with him before you give your offering. An offering is something big. It’s something that cost you something. But that offense, could be a small thing. A little thing, that caused big damage to someone else.

Our day to day lives should be lived with just as much care as when we’re planning something extraordinary. Our regular day to day interactions with people, what we say, do, and how we treat each other, should be done with love. We should always walk in love because those little moments, usually turn out to be the big ones.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Pay Attention To The Little Things.

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Help Someone In The Rain

1 Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. ~ Matthew 7:1-5

I recently saw a video that said:

“We don’t experience the same rain. Some have umbrellas, some have roofs, and some only have themselves. That’s why we should be kinder, slower to judge, and quicker to understand. You’ll never know how heavy someone’s rain is until you’ve stood where they are.”

Each one of our walks in this life is different. We have different obstacles, giants, valleys, and hills. Some of us have it easier, and some have it harder. This world isn’t fair. It throws everything it can at anyone it can. Some have other people that they can depend on, while others only have themselves. We don’t always know the walk someone has had before we judge them. Before we decide whether or not they are doing everything they can to keep going.

Often, the judgment call we make is much harsher than it would be if we were judging ourselves. We, as humanity, tend to judge others much harsher than we judge ourselves. Holding others to a higher standard than we hold ourselves. Why? Because it’s always easier to make a judgment call from the outside looking in. It’s easier to say what one should or shouldn’t do when it’s not you who has to do or not do it.

Therefore, God tells us to judge carefully. He warns us to first examine ourselves. He warns us that the same level of judgment we use to judge others will be the same level we will be judged with. Yes, as Christians, we are to judge right and wrong. We’re to call out sin. But we’re to do so in love. Jesus didn’t call out sin that the sinner was already aware of. When they came to Him and knelt at His feet, the sin was left there. No more talk of it. He didn’t turn anyone away from Him, regardless of how great the sin was. How can we do any less?

We need to be the salt of the earth, yes, but also the light of the world. Showing the love of Christ to others. Taking time out of our day to be a shoulder to cry on, a hand to hold, an encourager; to be Christ to the world in need. The rain around us will never be the same. Some will have it harder than others, but how we treat others in the rain can make all the difference. It can change a life.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Help Someone In The Rain.

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Achieve Serpent-Level Wisdom

16  Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. ~ Matthew 10:16

I recently read a Sumerian Proverb that said, “He is altogether good, but he is clothed with darkness.” There was no other context or information, just this one line, but it caught my attention and got me thinking. Honestly, this could be taken in too different ways but ultimately meaning the same thing, looks can be deceiving.

On the surface we see what each person wants us to see, what they allow us to see. We see the good they do, their smiles, joy, etc., but they hide the darkness that clothes their soul. Now, whether that darkness represents evil or depression of some kind doesn’t change the message, looks can be deceiving. Jesus gives us a sort of call to action, be as wise as serpents.

Throughout Scripture, serpents aren’t just venomous, sly, evil creatures. They are wise, prudent, fulfill the commands of God, and are even allowed in His presence circling His throne room. In many ancient religions, serpents are wise, knowing even the future. This is a concept throughout the world, but why is it important? Because we are to be a wise as serpents. Not easily deceived. Seeing past what is on the surface and looking deeper. Seeing through the mask to the person behind it. We are to be wise and filled with discernment.

Therefore, seek those things. They’re not just empty words Jesus said to sound good. They’re commands for us for a reason. What reason? To overcome the world through Him, just as He overcame. We see through the disguises and we expose the darkness. Whether evil or depression or any other form of oppression we expose it. We rebuke it. We shine the Light of Christ until the darkness has no other choice but to flee.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Achieve Serpent-Level Wisdom.

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Don’t Be Cow Or Chicken

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

I started watching Cow and Chicken the other day, because when I was a kid, my Daddy said we couldn’t watch it because it was too stupid. While I do definitely see that, it is an extremely stupid show, the more I watch, the more I realize humanity is just as stupid as these characters. See, they have a devil character in the show that constantly tricks Cow and Chicken into a mess for his own benefit and profit. At one point, he turns Cow into a slave for her milk and forces her to be a singer. In another, he tricks chicken into playing a virtual reality video game that’s damage in the game causes real damage to him in real life. The crazy part is he really isn’t even disguising himself. He’s just changing his name, yet the two (Cow and Chicken) never catch on that it’s the same guy. We as humans are exactly the same.

We don’t pay attention to who’s speaking to us. Who’s inviting us to do something. We simply focus on the “Do I want to do that thing?” “Is it something that interests me?” part. That’s why we’re constantly falling into the enemy’s trap, just like Cow and Chicken. We don’t pay attention to who’s trying to hurt us; we’re just focused on whether or not our flesh is satisfied. That’s the danger of the human nature. It’s selfish and self-serving. Its desire is what drives us to action.

This is why we are called to crucify the flesh. This is why we are called to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. This is why we are to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, so that we won’t be deceived. So that we won’t be distracted. So that we will be able to see past the flesh and into the spirit.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Don’t Be Cow Or Chicken.

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Always Remember Them

John 15:13

13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

Memorial Day is a somber day that we often overlook as just another day off work. When in reality, it should be the day we take a moment to remember our fallen soldiers. The men and women who gave their lives for our freedom. For our comforts and our safety. For our rights. What a somber thought. Freedom isn’t free. It never was and never will be. Someone always has to pay the price.

So, today, don’t forget or overlook our fallen soldiers. Remember them as you enjoy your day. Remember their sacrifice. And be thankful that they gave it all for your freedoms.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Always Remember Them.

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Be Changed By The Spirit

John 16:7-11 ESV

[7] Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. [8] And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: [9] concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; [10] concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; [11] concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

Today is Pentecost Sunday. 2,000 years ago the entire world changed. For the first time in history, we had hope of salvation. The entire world. The Church was born and the Holy Spirit was poured out on all flesh.

No longer was it just about following laws about food, clothing, circumcision of the flesh, etc., now it’s about the changing of yourself. The transformation of your mind, the circumcision of your heart, and the molding into the Image of God. A return to the Garden of Eden.

Pentecost is our hope of that. It is our chance to get things right and undo the past and break the chains of the generational curse of sin. Now, because the Spirit has come our children are born holy. They are born unstained. No longer are the sins of Adam a plague none can escape, for we now have the blood of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit changing us from the inside out. We have hope.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Be Changed By The Spirit.

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Strive To Be A Worthy Temple

19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. ~ 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Tomorrow is Pentecost Sunday. The anniversary, celebration, and commemoration of the Holy Spirit being poured out on all flesh. Something that never happened before. Before Pentecost, the Holy Spirit would only dwell on certain people, during certain times, and for certain occasions. But now, now He dwells in any person willing to accept Him. Willing to claim the Son of God as their LORD and Savior. What great hope we have.

Pentecost is hope. Not just for Israel, but for the entire world. Pentecost is the hope of salvation and reconciliation to the Creator of the entire world. Your past sins no longer matter. How far you’ve fallen, now irrelevant. Nothing but your decision to follow or not keeps you from God. What a great hope we now have. Therefore, today, make the decision to follow Christ. Make the decision to do better. Make the decision to strive to be worthy of the Almighty dwelling in you. You are now the Temple of the Living God.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Strive To Be A Worthy Temple.

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Have Patience For The Harvest

Exodus 9:31-32

31 (The flax and the barley were struck down, for the barley was in the ear and the flax was in bud. 32 But the wheat and the emmer were not struck down, for they are late in coming up.)

Today is the Feast of Shavuot. As we’ve talked about all week, Shavuot is the Wheat Harvest, unlike Passover which is the Barley Harvest. See, Jesus was here fulfilling the Barley Harvest because He was sent to the Lost Sheep of the House of Israel, the Barley. Barley matured faster, and therefore ripened first, though they (Barley and Wheat) were planted at the same time.

See, all the world came from one man and one woman. Adam. And Eve. We all descended from the same two ancestors. The world was planted at the creation of Adam and Eve, but only the descendants/offspring of Abraham would ripen in time for the Messiah’s coming.

God could’ve left it there. Just save the faithful of His chosen people. He would’ve honored His Word to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but Je didn’t. He didn’t stop there. He waited for the Wheat to mature. He waited for the Wheat to ripen and be ready for harvest.

Shavuot isn’t about harvesting physical grain, but the grain of the world. It’s about souls. The fields are white onto harvest. Finally, the rest of the world was ready. Finally, our hearts had turned from our own desires and sought something more. Finally the Holy Spirit could be poured out on ALL flesh so that the separation between peoples might no longer exist. The barrier destroyed and a harvest of anyone willing, regardless of bloodline, could be achieved.

The patience of the LORD isn’t because He forgot or just didn’t feel like it. His patience is what has given each of us the opportunity to be saved. For salvation would be impossible without Christ ascending and sending His Spirit upon us all.

This Shavuot, think about those around you that are late bloomers. They aren’t Barley, but Wheat. They take longer to mature, grow, and ripen. They’re more easily destroyed by pestilence, weather, soil, etc. They are a hard harvest to reap. The kind that you could just give up on, but if we just have the patience, the harvest is greater than we could have imagined. It just takes a little more patience. The patience of someone who loves that harvest.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Have Patience For The Harvest.

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Illuminate His Light

Acts 2:22-24, 36-37

[22] “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— [23] this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. [24] God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.

[36] Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” [37] Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

All week we’ve talked about Pentecost being the fulfillment of the promise of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.  And when the Spirit, other promises or declarations became a reality, as well. For instance, Jesus declared over His followers that they are the Light of the world (Matthew 5:4), but He also declared He is the Light of the World (John 8:12). How do we reconcile this? Jesus stated He was the Light of the World as long as He was in the world. Jesus is no longer physically in the world, instead He is spiritually here through us. How? Pentecost.

That day when the Holy spirit came down and filled those in the Upper Room, the Church was filled with the Spirit of the living God. The Spirit that dwelt in Christ. Therefore, it was at that time Jesus’ declaration truly became a reality for us, because it was at that time that we began to be molded and transformed into the Image of God, which is Christ Jesus. The Light of the World. That is why He is the Light of the World, as long as He’s in the world. He’s now passed that torch, that mantle onto us to carry in and through His name.

It’s now up to us to teach, preach, and evangelize. It’s now up to us to reach the masses and spread the Gospel to the ends of the Earth. Jesus did His job. He made a way where there was no way. He died, rose again, ascended, and then sent The Holy Spirit to us. He did the hard part. Now, it’s time for us to step up and take up the torch and be Christ to the World.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Illuminate His Light.

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