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John 15:18-25 KJV

If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his Lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me. If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin. He that hateth me hateth my Father also. If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause. John 15:18‭-‬25 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/jhn.15.18-25.KJV

Today’s Devotional

Today’s Devotional:

Blessed

Written By: Danny Saavedra

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.”—Matthew 5:11 (NIV)

If you have a social media account, you’ve probably seen people share photos or stories using the hashtag #Blessed. You may see this attached to a photo of family and friends gathered together, a birth announcement, a significant other, a pet, or maybe even a delicious meal.

Do you know what you don’t expect to see #Blessed attached to? A post about people insulting you, a picture of you being persecuted, or a video of people falsely saying all kinds of evil against you. But that’s exactly what Jesus is saying here. He’s saying we’re “blessed” when this happens to us.

Charles Ellicott explains that this beatitude is different from the others because it’s “uttered, not as a general law, but as the portion of the listening disciples to whom the Teacher spoke. The words contain three forms . . . of suffering: (1) the vague contempt, showing itself in gibes and nicknames; (2) persecution generally; (3) deliberate calumnies (slander; false statements) . . . which were spread against the believers in Christ in the first two centuries.”

Have you experienced anything like this? Have you ever heard a believer referred to as a bigot because they don’t agree with someone’s lifestyle? Or that Christians are ignorant, outdated, and narrow-minded? Has a secular professor ever tried to shame you in front of a class full of students because you follow Jesus? I’ve experienced these things, and I’m sure on some level you have, too. And here, as Ellicott points out, Jesus “forewarns His disciples that they must expect persecution if they follow Him; His very name will be the signal and occasion of it.”

But He also says we’re blessed because of it. Tomorrow, we’ll go deeper into what that blessing looks like . . . but for today, I want you to consider why suffering, difficulty, persecution, and hardship get mentioned in a positive light constantly in the Bible.

Consider James 1:3 (NIV), where you’re encouraged to rejoice in trials, “because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” Consider how Paul encourages us to “glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope” (Romans 5:3-4 NIV). And most of all, consider that Jesus tells us that He has overcome the world for us.

So, the next time you experience persecution of any kind for being a Christ-follower, I encourage you to view it as a blessing and know that God is working in you and for you in those moments!

DIG: Read John 15:18–25.

DISCOVER: Why do you believe the world hates and persecutes believers? What about Jesus’ name brings about such a reaction in some people?

DISPLAY: Find some time to pray with other believers over this subject. Pray for them as they potentially encounter persecution, slander, and ridicule for the name of Jesus. Pray for their perseverance and that the Lord would work through them, in them, and for them in those seasons.

Sinner Saved By Grace

Lyrics to the song Sinner Saved By Grace: If you could see what I once was
If you could go with me
Back to where I started from
Then I know you would see
A miracle of love that took me in its sweet embrace
And made me what I am today
Just an old sinner saved by grace.
I’m just a sinner saved by grace
When I stood condemned to death
He took my place
Now I live and breathe in freedom with each breath of life I take
Loved and forgiven
Back with the living
I’m just a sinner saved by grace https://youtu.be/C_lV6kXpABY

Let’s break it down. If you see the before and after you would see a miracle. Even as I have grown more then when I was a child in faith to now the change is huge. There is no denying seeing the fruits of the spirit in me.

The word sinner has a different view point on it. Saying one sin is worse then the other so I am not a sinner. There is   no if or but about it. Doesn’t matter if you killed someone or the least you do is maybe tell a lie once in a while. No sin is too big or too small not to be considered a sin. Sin is sin no matter what type of sin it is.

Proverbs 6:16 – 19 KJV

 These six [things] doth the LORD hate: yea, seven [are] an abomination unto him:

 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief.

 A false witness [that] speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

We come to then I stood condemned to death. Why condemn? What could I have possibly done to be condemned of Sin. Sin is what condemns you. Until you believe in Jesus and who He says He is, you are condemned meaning to spend eternity separated from God.

He took my place meaning He came down to earth conceived and then as a adult went to The Cross for us. He paid a debt He did not owe so that we who believe go to heaven. Before that we were destined to perish in hell. Out of His love for us he took on the sin of the world and paid with His blood. A man who did nothing wrong and yet still went to the cross for us.

Now I live and breathe in freedom meaning that for those of us who believe we are free from the chains and our sin that was leading us to hell and eternity separated from God. We admitted we are a sinner. We believe in Jesus Christ. We confessed our sin and need of Him in our lives. We have been changed forever and get to spend eternity with God.

Loved and forgiven meaning: 1st John 4:19 KJV We Love Him because He firsted loved us. His love for us sent him to the cross. He doesn’t wish any to perish that is why Jesus was sent to earth so that we might be saved. Why might? It’s your choice to believe or not believe in Him. Forgiven takes us to Ephesians 1:7 KJV In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.

Back to the living meaning I was dead spiritually and with my belief and faith I am no longer spiritually dead.

I am just a sinner saved by grace meaning found in Ephesians 2: 8-9 KJV For by grace are ye saved through faith; and not  of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

This is why I am a sinner saved by grace. God’s grace and mercy are new every morning. No better time then today to follow Him.

Worth reading and thinking about.

A friend wrote this on fb. I am sharing it here and you see me share a lot of different posts, message, or videos. The post that was written reads as the following: We are either all for Jesus or not at all. Neither hot nor cold. No fence riding. We cannot, and should not put Him in a little box up on a shelve only to bring it down when things go bad, or we need, or want something.
I see this too much in Christians and unbelievers. We cannot praise God and Satan. Praising Satan, dabbling in witchcraft, wishing people light and love, etc, ain’t going to work. Oh, people think it’s ok with Jesus to have both. They think them and Jesus have an “understanding”. No you don’t. People throw hissy fits when things don’t go their way. Cussing God out one side of their mouth, then praising Him when something better happens. Not good. Ought not to do that.
When we accept Jesus as our Savior, it’s 100% or not at all. We can’t have Him in one hand, and the world in the other.
Pick up your bible, study it. Just because you “read” it doesn’t mean you understand it. Study it! Turn your life around. Pray! Get out of the darkness of the world, and into the Light. That would be Jesus❤️

Hate to break it to you but you get one of the other.

Matthew 6:24King James Version

 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Its not both and can never be both. You are either with God or against God. The things you watch, listen to, or even read affect your relationship with others and Jesus. If you don’t believe it try a week without what ever it is that is bad and see the change. There is a line in Alan Jackson song, “Where Were You”, after 9/11/01 happen. The lyrics for the verse here: Did you open your eyes and hope it never happened
Close your eyes and not go to sleep?
Did you notice the sunset for the first time in ages
And speak to some stranger on the street?
Did you lay down at night and think of tomorrow
Go out and buy you a gun?
Did you turn off that violent old movie you’re watchin’
And turn on I Love Lucy reruns?
Did you go to a church and hold hands with some strangers
Stand in line to give your own blood?
Did you just stay home and cling tight to your family
Thank God you had somebody to love? https://youtu.be/jAQ-M65Hjag

The concern should be your heart. Are you in the right relationship with the Lord?

Romans 6:23 King James Version (KJV)

23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

John 3:16-17King James Version

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

1 John 1:9-10King James Version

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Today is the day you can decide to invite Jesus into your heart.

Admit you are a sinner Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and invite Him into your heart Confess your sins. Simple as that doesn’t need to be elaborate prayer just those three Admit Believe Confess.

Isaiah 49:8 King James Version (KJV)


8 Thus saith the Lord, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;

2 Corinthians 6:2 King James Version (KJV)

2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)