July 27, 2020


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Today's Bible Verse
"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love."
1 John 4:18 (KJV)



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Today's Bible Study
In this verse from John's first letter, we learn about the relationship between love and fear. This verse can help us understand our relationship with the Lord. Throughout Scripture, we are often told to fear the Lord, such as in Proverbs 9:10, which says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. However, in this verse, we are told that there is no fear in love. How can these seemingly contradictory ideas be reconciled?

The answer begins with understanding fear. Fear is described as "torment" in 1 John. It is something that bothers us and doesn't seem to ever go away. Moreover, in Proverbs 9, fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Does the Lord somehow bring torment, and does that somehow lead to wisdom? In short … kind of.

Before any of us knew the Lord, we were not able to approach Him. We were His sworn enemies, acting directly against Him. The Lord promised judgment against us; we would pay for our actions. He knew everything we had ever done and the extent of our own inner wickedness. The price for our sins was death and eternal separation from the Lord. This is a very serious and real reason to be afraid. When we acknowledge that we have sinned against a holy God, this fear is the beginning of wisdom, because it changes the way that we think about ourselves and the Lord. Instead of wanting to continue in our sin, we want to please Him.


The Lord does not want us to live in fear. He does not want us to be uncertain about where we stand with Him, and He's not interested in having a bunch of people follow Him simply because they're scared. The Lord is not a ruler operating by command of fear, but instead merciful, gracious love.

We see this through the life and death of Jesus. Jesus did not turn away sinners who deserved judgment; He welcomed them. He reached out to them and touched their hearts. Most importantly, Jesus died so that we could be justified once and for all through Him. In His great love, He died for us. His perfect love has cast out our reason to fear the Lord's judgment against us. We have been set free from fear through His love.
Today's Prayer
Dear Lord, thank you for casting out all fear through your love. Thank you for being mightier than any negative emotion I could ever feel. You are so good, Lord, and I am so grateful that you love me more than I could ever understand. I love you, Lord. In Jesus's name, amen.
Yesterday's Devotional
July 26, 2020
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Yesterday's Bible Verse
"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."
Hebrews 4:12 (KJV)



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Yesterday's Bible Study
In this verse from Hebrews, we have a powerful description of the Word of God. It is quick, powerful, sharper than a sword, and a discerner of thoughts and intentions. The Bible is all these things because it is the Word of the Lord, a living and active tool through which the Lord works and moves in the world. Today, we'll talk about why it is so important that we spend time in God's Word by looking at these analogies from the writer of Hebrews.

What does it mean for the Word to be quick and powerful? When we read with an open mind, we can see the truth about ourselves and our need for the Lord quickly and powerfully. It dispels illusions that we might have about ourselves, revealing us as we are--needing the Lord to save us from sin and give us grace. The Word is an instrument of conviction and gives us a solution: calling out to the Lord.

The writer also compares the Word to a sword that divides the soul and spirit, and figuratively, the joints and marrow. One interpretation of this phrase is that God's Word helps us see sin in our lives we had not recognized before. While we once could not see that some things in our lives were wrong, the Bible helps us discern what is true; it eliminates any misunderstanding. It cuts through sin and falsehoods, exposing them as they are.


The Word also discerns our thoughts and reveals our intentions. Sometimes we act without realizing our motivations. We might cut someone off in traffic, but rather than doing it to save a few seconds of time, our true motivation might be to feel like we have power or control. The Word can help us come to realizations like these, convicting us and helping us become more like Jesus. As seventeenth century minister and author Matthew Henry wrote in his Bible commentary, "The Word will turn the inside of a sinner out, and let him see all that is in his heart."

The best way to become more like Jesus is to spend more time in His Word. Ask Him to show you what you need to see about yourself, and then make up your mind to do as He has instructed. Also, develop a habit of reading the Word. The Bible can be a challenging book, and a daily habit of sitting down and truly thinking through its different passages is essential to experiencing its power in your own life.
Yesterday's Prayer
Dear Lord, thank you so much for your Word. Thank you for the power of your promises. Help me to remember your Word, digging into its riches and promises all the days of my life. Help me to know you better, Lord, and make your Word alive to me. In Jesus's name, amen.
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