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“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12, NIV)

The word of God is alive: In order for the word of God to grow within us, we must make room for it; we must take time for it; we must nurture it.

The word of God is active: We see the word of God at work — and wanting to be at work — in our circumstances; leading, guiding, teaching, comforting, correcting.

The word of God is the criterion for good and evil: The attitude or the thought subjected to its scrutiny will always run true.

To begin any day without the word of God hidden within one’s heart is an invitation to frustration and spiritual defeat. The disciple of Jesus has the word of God as an alternative to frustration and defeat in spiritual things. – Luther

Tagged the book of Hebrews, the scriptures, the word of God, victory

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“And he led them out as far as Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.” (Luke 24:50-53, NIV)

For the disciples of Jesus, Jerusalem had been the site of many tragic events over the previous days. In fact, with the death of Jesus, it seemed that all of their dreams had been dashed; and that all of their plans had been trashed.

In the light of the Resurrection, however, they “returned to Jerusalem with great joy.” We can only imagine what the outsiders must have thought about the disciples of Jesus as they saw them in the temple; joyful and praising and blessing God. Perhaps they thought: “Aren’t these the disciples of the man who was crucified on Friday? Why is it that they are now so bright and optimistic?”

The answer then, as now, is this: He lives!

The Resurrection of our Lord trumps every sorrow and redeems every failure. The Resurrection enables us to return to the scene of our greatest humiliation with great joy and confidence. To live in the light of the Resurrection is to truly live! – Luther

Tagged joy, optimism, the book of Luke, the Resurrection, victory

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“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.” (2 Peter 3:18, NIV)

The last verse of the final chapter of Peter’s letters to the exiled Christians contains the admonition to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Christ.

An applicable definition of grace is “unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration or sanctification.”

To grow in grace means that things that once frustrated us no longer have the power to frustrate. It means that the things that once distracted us no longer have the power to distract. It means the things that once provoked us to react in an unseemly manner no longer provoke. To grow in grace is to become more like our heavenly Father — with His assistance!

Remember, with God all things are possible. (Matthew 19:26) – Luther

Tagged grace, knowledge, the book of 2 Peter, victory