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Hardest ...
THE HARDEST WORKING…
James Brown was known as the hardest working man in show business.
Before his “Reformation experience” Martin Luther worked as hard as anyone to try and please God. He took religion seriously. He worked night and day seeking to please God and work his way into God’s favor.
Then he realized he had it upside down: Christianity is not about our hard work; it is about Jesus’ work for us.
Think on that for a bit: Jesus fully expended and extended himself to secure reconciliation between you and God the Father. It is his work. Fully. Completely.
This is the key difference between Christianity and all other religions: God works for us. (If you like, go ahead and check this out to see if it is true.)
Here’s the thing. If God has done the work, he gets the credit.
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THE HARDEST PART…
This may sound simple, but it is the hardest part of understanding… and believing… Christianity. It is hard to understand that we are what we are, the Children of God—forgiven and loved, completely by the work of another and not of ourselves.
Why is that? Why do we struggle with the idea of grace? How does our lack of gratitude prove that we struggle with this?
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THE HARDEST TIMES…
For some of you, these are the hardest times you have ever faced. And I do not just mean these economic conditions. Some of you are in serious health situations. Some of you are in family crisis.
Remember that in the hardest times, the one who worked hard to secure your salvation is right there with you to provide, protect and even to prosper.
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THE HARDEST ONE YET…
Here is the Bible Treasure Hunt for the week:
Clue 1: In favor of words transitive or intransitive, active or passive mood. Clue 2: Equine youngsters vs. holy men is to 44 as meat-handlers vs. minutemen is to ? Clue 3: Homophone for “finished a meal”; and homophone for a Deutsch “no.”
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