What is a calling? When God calls someone he gives them a task to fulfill or a position in which to serve. It is not something that we earn, or have the potential to fulfill it by ourselves. Rather, God appoints us and gives us the ability, strength and wisdom to fulfill his purposes.
God called Samuel to lead Israel through its transition into a monarchy. God had not called a leader such as Samuel since Joshua. Something great his coming and Israel will need a Godly prophet to lead them through this change. Unlike the judges, Samuel is known throughout all of Israel (v. 20), meaning all of Israel is to be transformed into something new. God always uses prophets when he leads Israel through major redemptive changes. Moses, the great prophet for Israel, lead the nation out of bondage from Egypt. Now Samuel will lead Israel out of its spiritual anarchy into a godly kingdom. But this goal was never fully inaugurated, because the monarchy failed with its poor kings.
The kingdom that Samuel was called to build came under the work of a greater prophet—Jesus Christ. We don’t typically think of Christ as a prophet, but he was greater than the prophet Moses. Prophets represented God to humanity just as the incarnated Christ being God himself represents God to us. Put simply Christ reveals God’s truth to us that through Christ God has redeemed a people for himself. All of Scripture points to Christ and his work.
So what are we called to? God calls us to be a holy people and to live lives worthy of Christ (Ephesians 4:1). Secondly, we are called to serve one another (Galatians 5:13). But we are not just called to serve the church or those we like but to serve everyone including the entire world. We are to seek the welfare of the city (Jeremiah 29:4-23). We are to be a blessing to the entire world and not just in “ministry” but also as be lawyers, doctors, soldiers, accountants, plumbers and carpenters. We all have a calling through which we are to serve God in our work. It is a calling that Christ gives us strength, hope, and ability to accomplish. Let us then live our lives worthy of Christ doing whatever it is that he has called us to do, for that is a holy calling.
Posted by Aaron Miner
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
1 Samuel 2: New Leadership
1 Samuel 2: New Leadership
Two of the key themes in 1 & 2 Samuel are the themes of leadership and blessing. They weave together like a rope in the history of the establishment of the monarchy in Israel. The birth of Samuel is representative of the end of the period of the judges and the beginning of the leadership of the kings and prophets. Samuel would guide Israel into a day where Israel would be led by a kings, priests and prophets as taught in Deuteronomy. He would be the final judge and yield his authority to a king and would then emerge as a prophet in the line of Moses, founding a school of prophets who would be the guardians and watchman for the covenant in Israel.
The emergence of Samuel and the demise of the house of Eli are great examples of what is important to God in the development of leaders. Samuel is born in humility, but is sanctified by dedication. Hannah’s prayer reflects the beatitudes of Jesus (Matthew 5) and the many calls in the New Testament for humility. Her prayer comes to sharp, human application when she says in v. 9, “it is not by strength that one prevails…” Samuel would be a picture of the ne dedicated to God, living in obedience to him—raised to live for him from the beginning. This foundation would serve history well as his life would serve as a hinge point for the history of Israel.
The disintegration of the house of Eli also resembles the beatitudes (this time, Luke 6) in the way a curse comes to those who are proud. They are selfish with the things of God and contemptuous of the work of the Temple and for these reasons, God removes from them his anointing and their opportunity to continue to offer leadership in Israel. God says, “although good will be done in Israel, in your family line there will never be an old man. In many ways, lives of the sons of Eli are a prologue to the rise and fall of King Saul, as Samuel is a prologue to the rise of David.
This is a great reminder to all who lead and who are stewards of talent and wealth. To whom much is given, much will be expected. Yet, there is hope with Eli. Though God removed the anointing for ministry from his family, he did not remove them from Israel. And, with Samuel, Eli had a second chance to grow and nurture new leadership for Israel. Have you reaped poorly from sowing poorly? You may have a hole to work out of, but you can trust that God is a God of second chances.
Posted by Marc Lucenius
Two of the key themes in 1 & 2 Samuel are the themes of leadership and blessing. They weave together like a rope in the history of the establishment of the monarchy in Israel. The birth of Samuel is representative of the end of the period of the judges and the beginning of the leadership of the kings and prophets. Samuel would guide Israel into a day where Israel would be led by a kings, priests and prophets as taught in Deuteronomy. He would be the final judge and yield his authority to a king and would then emerge as a prophet in the line of Moses, founding a school of prophets who would be the guardians and watchman for the covenant in Israel.
The emergence of Samuel and the demise of the house of Eli are great examples of what is important to God in the development of leaders. Samuel is born in humility, but is sanctified by dedication. Hannah’s prayer reflects the beatitudes of Jesus (Matthew 5) and the many calls in the New Testament for humility. Her prayer comes to sharp, human application when she says in v. 9, “it is not by strength that one prevails…” Samuel would be a picture of the ne dedicated to God, living in obedience to him—raised to live for him from the beginning. This foundation would serve history well as his life would serve as a hinge point for the history of Israel.
The disintegration of the house of Eli also resembles the beatitudes (this time, Luke 6) in the way a curse comes to those who are proud. They are selfish with the things of God and contemptuous of the work of the Temple and for these reasons, God removes from them his anointing and their opportunity to continue to offer leadership in Israel. God says, “although good will be done in Israel, in your family line there will never be an old man. In many ways, lives of the sons of Eli are a prologue to the rise and fall of King Saul, as Samuel is a prologue to the rise of David.
This is a great reminder to all who lead and who are stewards of talent and wealth. To whom much is given, much will be expected. Yet, there is hope with Eli. Though God removed the anointing for ministry from his family, he did not remove them from Israel. And, with Samuel, Eli had a second chance to grow and nurture new leadership for Israel. Have you reaped poorly from sowing poorly? You may have a hole to work out of, but you can trust that God is a God of second chances.
Posted by Marc Lucenius
Labels:
dedication,
Eli,
Hannah,
humility,
leadership,
Samuel
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Ruth 4: Redeeming Sacrifice
So why does this kinsmen pass on the right to purchase this land from Naomi? Even if the land comes with responsibility to Ruth would it not make sense to acquire the land for himself? No, not in the context of the culture we are reading about. The kinsman would not only be required to purchase the land from Naomi, but would also be obligated to give Ruth a son. This son would become the rightful heir of this estate. This would then make the land purchased by the kinsman property of the son through inheritance of Naomi’s family. This land that was purchased at a cost would then be lost. In this culture the son would also be recognized as one from Naomi’s family line. The kinsman would only be serving as a surrogate for Naomi’s deceased son; therefore the son would not bear the kinsman family name.
The kinsman acceptance of these terms would come at great financial and personal sacrifice. Boaz knew that the kinsman would not be able to agree to the requirements set by the law. You can see why redeemer is attached to the word kinsman. The restoration of Naomi and Ruth was going to come through sacrifice on the part of Boaz. Any son born to Ruth would rightfully bear the family name of Ruth’s deceased husband. This could mean that Boaz’s family name might possibly end with him, as we do not read of any other children born to Boaz. It would also come at the financial loss of the land purchase.
Where do you see lives being redeemed by others? I see it all the time in the actions of many at Willowdale. We see people sacrificing their time to mentor students at the Garage or those that sacrifice financially to sponsor couples so that they can attend marriage conferences. We just had several people give an entire weekend to serve students at a Young Life retreat. We have some spending Saturday after Saturday ministering to people in jail. We have ladies giving their time to serve pregnant teens who don’t know what life now holds for them. We had a group of men who spent last Saturday working on a home through the ministry of Good Neighbors. These folks have the heart of Boaz and are the pace setters for the rest of us. Christ clearly showed us that redeeming people comes at a cost. I am grateful to be part of a body that is willing to sacrifice in order to redeem people.
Posted by Jim
The kinsman acceptance of these terms would come at great financial and personal sacrifice. Boaz knew that the kinsman would not be able to agree to the requirements set by the law. You can see why redeemer is attached to the word kinsman. The restoration of Naomi and Ruth was going to come through sacrifice on the part of Boaz. Any son born to Ruth would rightfully bear the family name of Ruth’s deceased husband. This could mean that Boaz’s family name might possibly end with him, as we do not read of any other children born to Boaz. It would also come at the financial loss of the land purchase.
Where do you see lives being redeemed by others? I see it all the time in the actions of many at Willowdale. We see people sacrificing their time to mentor students at the Garage or those that sacrifice financially to sponsor couples so that they can attend marriage conferences. We just had several people give an entire weekend to serve students at a Young Life retreat. We have some spending Saturday after Saturday ministering to people in jail. We have ladies giving their time to serve pregnant teens who don’t know what life now holds for them. We had a group of men who spent last Saturday working on a home through the ministry of Good Neighbors. These folks have the heart of Boaz and are the pace setters for the rest of us. Christ clearly showed us that redeeming people comes at a cost. I am grateful to be part of a body that is willing to sacrifice in order to redeem people.
Posted by Jim
Labels:
sacrifice
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Ruth 3: Excellence on Display
How are you known by others? What do they know about you that would give an accurate description of who you are? Ruth 3 deals with a few characters that are known for exceptional character. They are known by others as men and women of excellence.
It begins with Naomi. A widow and mother-in-law back home after the severe famine. She’s accompanied by her daughter-in-law Ruth. Naomi realizes Ruth’s faithfulness and devotion to her and seeks security for Ruth out of her own love and devotion for her. So Ruth listens to all that Naomi commands her to do, to go into the fields after Boaz has finished eating and drinking for the night to be near him to see if he would take care of her. Ruth was being instructed to prepare herself as a bride. She was appealing to Boaz’s kinsman obligation. Her actions were a request for marriage. And Boaz once again is impressed with Ruth’s character. Her kindness (v.10) was shown to him because she didn’t simply go after the younger men. He knows of her history (see Ruth 2) and how faithful Ruth has been to Naomi. But now he sees another side of her. In fact, he says “all the people in the city know that you are a woman of excellence.” He’s impressed.
It can also be said that Boaz is a person of excellence. You see he could have simply accepted Ruth’s approach without any further discussion. But, he knew there was a relative closer to Ruth than himself. So the right thing, the law, indicates the closest relative has the first right as kinsman redeemer for this relative, or the first right of refusal so to speak.
What do you do when you’re in a situation that benefits you and you can easily get past the letter of the law? Ruth and Boaz were in this position. Both are examples of excellence on display. Ruth didn’t have to stay with her mother-in-law, she didn’t have to leave Moab and come to Naomi’s home. Ruth had nothing except her relationship with Naomi and her character. Boaz demonstrated excellence when approached by Ruth for one reason – because it was the right thing to do. Do we do that in our culture? Do we do the right thing because it’s the right thing? Or do we need other reasons to do what is right? Let’s remember Ruth and Boaz as examples of excellence, as examples of doing the right thing because it’s the right thing to do. And let’s remember that we’re all faced with so many situations in our lives, every day and every week. And that we’re ambassadors of Christ, called to live righteous lives in all our ways. So let’s do the right thing – let’s put Christ’s excellence in us on display everyday.
Posted by Joe Stecz
It begins with Naomi. A widow and mother-in-law back home after the severe famine. She’s accompanied by her daughter-in-law Ruth. Naomi realizes Ruth’s faithfulness and devotion to her and seeks security for Ruth out of her own love and devotion for her. So Ruth listens to all that Naomi commands her to do, to go into the fields after Boaz has finished eating and drinking for the night to be near him to see if he would take care of her. Ruth was being instructed to prepare herself as a bride. She was appealing to Boaz’s kinsman obligation. Her actions were a request for marriage. And Boaz once again is impressed with Ruth’s character. Her kindness (v.10) was shown to him because she didn’t simply go after the younger men. He knows of her history (see Ruth 2) and how faithful Ruth has been to Naomi. But now he sees another side of her. In fact, he says “all the people in the city know that you are a woman of excellence.” He’s impressed.
It can also be said that Boaz is a person of excellence. You see he could have simply accepted Ruth’s approach without any further discussion. But, he knew there was a relative closer to Ruth than himself. So the right thing, the law, indicates the closest relative has the first right as kinsman redeemer for this relative, or the first right of refusal so to speak.
What do you do when you’re in a situation that benefits you and you can easily get past the letter of the law? Ruth and Boaz were in this position. Both are examples of excellence on display. Ruth didn’t have to stay with her mother-in-law, she didn’t have to leave Moab and come to Naomi’s home. Ruth had nothing except her relationship with Naomi and her character. Boaz demonstrated excellence when approached by Ruth for one reason – because it was the right thing to do. Do we do that in our culture? Do we do the right thing because it’s the right thing? Or do we need other reasons to do what is right? Let’s remember Ruth and Boaz as examples of excellence, as examples of doing the right thing because it’s the right thing to do. And let’s remember that we’re all faced with so many situations in our lives, every day and every week. And that we’re ambassadors of Christ, called to live righteous lives in all our ways. So let’s do the right thing – let’s put Christ’s excellence in us on display everyday.
Posted by Joe Stecz
Labels:
character
Monday, January 26, 2009
Ruth 2: Beyond justice to...
If Judges is all about what was wrong with Israel, Ruth is a picture of what is right. We see in this passage that there is a place for a gentile, like Ruth, to experience the blessing that God has given Israel, that there are still Godly men in Israel like Boaz, and there is a system that God has established to provide for those, like Naomi who have experienced personal disaster.
Ruth displays her faithfulness to Naomi by going out to work to provide for both of them. God shows his faithfulness to Naomi and Ruth by establishing a law that farmers shouldn’t completely “maximize” their harvest, but leave gleanings for the poor to collect and enjoy. Boaz shows his faithfulness to God by noticing Ruth and going beyond the law, having his men leave extra gleanings, thereby demonstrating mercy and compassion to Ruth and Naomi.
Meeting Boaz introduces a new concept into the mix: the kinsman-redeemer. In each family, the kinsman-redeemer would be the closest person to one in need and would take responsibility for the land as well as the continued descent of that family line. In the case of Naomi, the family line of Elimelech was ready to end, with both sons lost. Boaz was one of a few men who were relatives of Elimelech who could take responsibility to purchase Elimelech’s land and to marry Ruth, and in so doing, “redeem” both the land of Israel and the family line in Israel.
When Naomi discovers how Ruth had stumbled upon Boaz and experienced his generosity, her hopes return, serving as a hinge point for the story. So what does this teach us about God? We could suggest many things, but may I suggest that the law of Israel and the heroes of Israel serve to go beyond justice to achieve the vision of a beautiful Hebrew term known as “hesed.” Hesed is many things but is best translated as ‘covenant faithfulness.’ This is a broad term that we see on display in Ruth’s loyalty, Boaz’s compassion and the law of God that really isn’t about justice in this situation, but rather blessing and how it extends from Israel to the world and from generation to generation.
If the goal of the law is to produce holiness, the goal of holiness is NOT to give a sense of moral superiority that we are so tempted towards, but rather to set us apart from the selfish gravity of the world and to free us from it in order that might joyfully display compassion, generosity, love—hesed.
Posted by Marc Lucenius
Ruth displays her faithfulness to Naomi by going out to work to provide for both of them. God shows his faithfulness to Naomi and Ruth by establishing a law that farmers shouldn’t completely “maximize” their harvest, but leave gleanings for the poor to collect and enjoy. Boaz shows his faithfulness to God by noticing Ruth and going beyond the law, having his men leave extra gleanings, thereby demonstrating mercy and compassion to Ruth and Naomi.
Meeting Boaz introduces a new concept into the mix: the kinsman-redeemer. In each family, the kinsman-redeemer would be the closest person to one in need and would take responsibility for the land as well as the continued descent of that family line. In the case of Naomi, the family line of Elimelech was ready to end, with both sons lost. Boaz was one of a few men who were relatives of Elimelech who could take responsibility to purchase Elimelech’s land and to marry Ruth, and in so doing, “redeem” both the land of Israel and the family line in Israel.
When Naomi discovers how Ruth had stumbled upon Boaz and experienced his generosity, her hopes return, serving as a hinge point for the story. So what does this teach us about God? We could suggest many things, but may I suggest that the law of Israel and the heroes of Israel serve to go beyond justice to achieve the vision of a beautiful Hebrew term known as “hesed.” Hesed is many things but is best translated as ‘covenant faithfulness.’ This is a broad term that we see on display in Ruth’s loyalty, Boaz’s compassion and the law of God that really isn’t about justice in this situation, but rather blessing and how it extends from Israel to the world and from generation to generation.
If the goal of the law is to produce holiness, the goal of holiness is NOT to give a sense of moral superiority that we are so tempted towards, but rather to set us apart from the selfish gravity of the world and to free us from it in order that might joyfully display compassion, generosity, love—hesed.
Posted by Marc Lucenius
Labels:
covenant faithfulness,
hesed,
kinsman-redeemer
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Ruth 1: Faithfulness
What happens when disaster strikes? Where do we turn, who do we blame? There are many places we can turn and many ways we can react, so what do you do? The book of Ruth starts off with a famine and for an agricultural community nothing could be worse.
But for Naomi the disaster doesn’t end there. She loses her two sons and her husband. Her situation is simply something we cannot fathom. It would be the equivalent of losing your home, your family and friends, your job and absolutely no possibility of ever gaining employment again. She had two choices: begging or prostitution.
Naomi’s response was to change her name to bitterness and lay the blame for her situation on God (v. 20-22). Orpah chooses to go back to her family but Ruth pledges to remain faithful to Naomi until they die. Ruth accepts Naomi’s grim fate. But it is through Ruth that God shows is faithfulness to Naomi. Naomi may have returned to Israel empty but she was not alone, God had provided Ruth through whom he would bless Naomi again.
The Hebrew idea of faithfulness is far more comprehensive than we typically think. It encompasses love, mercy, grace, kindness, goodness, benevolence, loyalty, covenant faithfulness. But it could be summarized as a quality that moves a person to act for the benefit of another without respect to any advantage or reward the doer might receive. Having faithfulness means I actively work for the benefit of another. Ruth shows her faithfulness to Naomi by choosing to suffer the same fate as Naomi. But there is a greater act of faithfulness in the Bible than Ruth’s, it is Christ’s. Jesus was so filled with faithfulness to God, that he was moved to die on behalf of us to save us from a fate much worse than Naomi’s and Ruth’s. While we were still sinners he died for us (Romans 5:8).
Christ has already saved us, his people, from the worst disaster they could experience. But God’s concern for Naomi and Ruth also shows that he doesn’t stop there, he is also faithful in the little things of life. Didn’t Jesus say the same thing in the Sermon on the Mount? Do not worry…because if God clothes the grasses of the fields and feeds the birds of the air how much more will he take care of you (v. Matthew 6:25-34)? God is still faithful even in times of disaster. We may not see it at first but if we wait on God we will see that he is faithful and always has been. Let us then praise our faithful and awesome God.
Posted by Aaron Miner
But for Naomi the disaster doesn’t end there. She loses her two sons and her husband. Her situation is simply something we cannot fathom. It would be the equivalent of losing your home, your family and friends, your job and absolutely no possibility of ever gaining employment again. She had two choices: begging or prostitution.
Naomi’s response was to change her name to bitterness and lay the blame for her situation on God (v. 20-22). Orpah chooses to go back to her family but Ruth pledges to remain faithful to Naomi until they die. Ruth accepts Naomi’s grim fate. But it is through Ruth that God shows is faithfulness to Naomi. Naomi may have returned to Israel empty but she was not alone, God had provided Ruth through whom he would bless Naomi again.
The Hebrew idea of faithfulness is far more comprehensive than we typically think. It encompasses love, mercy, grace, kindness, goodness, benevolence, loyalty, covenant faithfulness. But it could be summarized as a quality that moves a person to act for the benefit of another without respect to any advantage or reward the doer might receive. Having faithfulness means I actively work for the benefit of another. Ruth shows her faithfulness to Naomi by choosing to suffer the same fate as Naomi. But there is a greater act of faithfulness in the Bible than Ruth’s, it is Christ’s. Jesus was so filled with faithfulness to God, that he was moved to die on behalf of us to save us from a fate much worse than Naomi’s and Ruth’s. While we were still sinners he died for us (Romans 5:8).
Christ has already saved us, his people, from the worst disaster they could experience. But God’s concern for Naomi and Ruth also shows that he doesn’t stop there, he is also faithful in the little things of life. Didn’t Jesus say the same thing in the Sermon on the Mount? Do not worry…because if God clothes the grasses of the fields and feeds the birds of the air how much more will he take care of you (v. Matthew 6:25-34)? God is still faithful even in times of disaster. We may not see it at first but if we wait on God we will see that he is faithful and always has been. Let us then praise our faithful and awesome God.
Posted by Aaron Miner
Labels:
faithfulness
Judges 21: Spiritual Anarchy
“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? (Jeremiah 17:9)”
Have you ever watched the news or read the newspaper in disgust by the violent and terrible acts that people do? Not a day goes by when we don’t see some unbelievable act of cruelty. How can people do this to one another? Jeremiah answers the question by pointing out the deceitfulness of our hearts. We don’t realize how easy it is to convince ourselves that wrong is right. In addition we should never say, “I would never do such a thing.” The context for the Rwanda Genocide didn’t form over night, but it took decades of dehumanizing hate and prejudice that lurked around and poisoned them until it was finally ignited in 1994. They deceived themselves over generations until as one perpetrator described “they were taken over by Satan.” The genocide of the Benjamites in Judges was no different.
With every successive judge, Israel walked farther away from God. They did what was right in their own eyes (v. 25) and the greater the distance from God the more heinous they acted. In chapter 21, when Israel finally came to their senses after their bloodlust they realized that they had effectively annihilated one of the twelve tribes (v. 3). They had killed every woman of the tribe, left only 600 men, and then swore to never allow them to marry their daughters. To preserve the tribe, they slaughtered everyone but the virgin daughters in Jabesh-gilead and kidnapped the girls of Shiloh as they celebrated in the fields to give them wives. This was “right” in Israel’s eye.
What was God’s response? Deafening silence. All that is said is an editorial refrain saying, “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes. (v. 25)” The Israelites deceived themselves and did what they thought best, just like the Rwandan Hutus who murdered a tenth of their countrymen. Judges 17-21 portrays Israel in spiritual anarchy.
But God’s response doesn’t come in the book of Judges but in Samuel when he removes the wicked leaders of Israel and replaces them with Samuel and David. There is something better that God has in store for Israel than spiritual anarchy. But the kings of Israel don’t fair much better. They repeatedly led Israel and Judah astray which ended in exile. Israel doesn’t find its true king and leader until Jesus comes as king and deliverer. It is only in following Christ that God’s people can defeat spiritual anarchy and live rightly before God.
Our hearts may be easily deceived but God does not let his people wander aimlessly. The Holy Spirit gives us the guidance and the strength to see the deception and fight against it. We cannot allow the lies to rule our lives but must instead focus on the grace and love of Christ.
Posted by Aaron Miner
Have you ever watched the news or read the newspaper in disgust by the violent and terrible acts that people do? Not a day goes by when we don’t see some unbelievable act of cruelty. How can people do this to one another? Jeremiah answers the question by pointing out the deceitfulness of our hearts. We don’t realize how easy it is to convince ourselves that wrong is right. In addition we should never say, “I would never do such a thing.” The context for the Rwanda Genocide didn’t form over night, but it took decades of dehumanizing hate and prejudice that lurked around and poisoned them until it was finally ignited in 1994. They deceived themselves over generations until as one perpetrator described “they were taken over by Satan.” The genocide of the Benjamites in Judges was no different.
With every successive judge, Israel walked farther away from God. They did what was right in their own eyes (v. 25) and the greater the distance from God the more heinous they acted. In chapter 21, when Israel finally came to their senses after their bloodlust they realized that they had effectively annihilated one of the twelve tribes (v. 3). They had killed every woman of the tribe, left only 600 men, and then swore to never allow them to marry their daughters. To preserve the tribe, they slaughtered everyone but the virgin daughters in Jabesh-gilead and kidnapped the girls of Shiloh as they celebrated in the fields to give them wives. This was “right” in Israel’s eye.
What was God’s response? Deafening silence. All that is said is an editorial refrain saying, “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes. (v. 25)” The Israelites deceived themselves and did what they thought best, just like the Rwandan Hutus who murdered a tenth of their countrymen. Judges 17-21 portrays Israel in spiritual anarchy.
But God’s response doesn’t come in the book of Judges but in Samuel when he removes the wicked leaders of Israel and replaces them with Samuel and David. There is something better that God has in store for Israel than spiritual anarchy. But the kings of Israel don’t fair much better. They repeatedly led Israel and Judah astray which ended in exile. Israel doesn’t find its true king and leader until Jesus comes as king and deliverer. It is only in following Christ that God’s people can defeat spiritual anarchy and live rightly before God.
Our hearts may be easily deceived but God does not let his people wander aimlessly. The Holy Spirit gives us the guidance and the strength to see the deception and fight against it. We cannot allow the lies to rule our lives but must instead focus on the grace and love of Christ.
Posted by Aaron Miner
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