FREE IN GOD’S LOVE!

1 John 4:18 – Devotional

1 John 4:18

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear possesses torment. He that possesses fear is not made perfect in love.”

Listen to today’s Message of the Week, “Free In God’s Love!” by clicking above on the play button.

Blessings dear hearts. Walk with God today and be a blessing!

– – – Pastor Cecil

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If you have watched The Sands of Eternity video above and prayed the prayer at the end, please go to https://PastorCecil.com/ and use the form on the webpage to let us know so we can send you follow up resources and/or send an email to pastorcecil@dailyevotional.com and let him know.

WALK IN HIS LIGHT​​!

1 John 1:7 – Devotional

1 John 1:7

“If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.“

Some people have better night vision than others. I am told it has to do with rods in the retina. I guess my night vision is fairly good, though I am not sure how you are able to compare it with the average … but I do not stumble too often. As a teen I did stumble a few times when I came in after a date with Joyce and did not want to turn on the lights. Mom had a habit of re-arranging furniture!

As a police officer I frequently had to enter dark buildings that had been found unlocked. With only a flashlight to illuminate large warehouse areas, it was vital to only walk in the beam of light.

Jesus is the Light of the World. In order to insure we do not stray into dangerous territory, we must follow in the light of His word. There are people who try to tell us to follow them, but that can lead to great danger.

When we search the word of God and walk in its light, we will be able to stay on the right path and prevent falling into error. It will also lead us to the fellowship of others who are committed to walking in the light.

Blessings dear hearts! Walk with God today and be a blessing!

– – – Pastor Cecil

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If you have watched The Sands of Eternity video above and prayed the prayer at the end, please go to https://PastorCecil.com/ and use the form on the webpage to let us know so we can send you follow up resources and/or send an email to pastorcecil@dailyevotional.com and let him know.

THIS IS LOVE​!

1 John 4:10 – Devotional

1 John 4:10

“This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.“

I once heard about a couple who made an appointment with a marriage counselor. They had been married for forty years and the counselor wondered why they would want to talk to him.

The wife started out by sayig that she didn’t think her husband loved her—at least he never said he loved her.

When the counselor asked the husband if this were true, he readily agreed.

The husband explained that he told his wife forty years ago that he loved her and that he had not withdrawn that statement. In the husband’s mind that 40-year-old declaration was still in effect!

(I think the counselor wanted to bang his head on the desk!)

It is seldom, if ever, that we choose up sides and talk about the meaning of the word love. Many of use think we have a grasp of its meaning, but there is some doubt that we have plumbed the depths of love’s true meaning.

Here is my candid observation: Love is an emotion.

The Bible says we are to love and, by its very nature, love needs a positive response to that command. We are prone to love only as long as the person loves us in return. Take that response away and we quickly lose the desire to continue loving.

Like it or not, we humans are self-centered and preoccupied with ourselves. If you want an example of this, just stop and listen to someone’s conversation. Note the way they focus on their own interests and welfare.

According to God’s precious Word, we are to love in the same way that Jesus loves us. That means we are to love even when the other persn is not lovable.

When you stop to think about it, that is the way God loves us—when we are the most unlovable. It is while we were unlovable sinners that Christ died for us, and it’s the unlovable people around us who need us to love them—with Christ’s transforming love.

Blessings dear hearts! Walk with God today and be a blessing!

– – – Pastor Cecil

Share a blessing by inviting your friends and family to subscribe to Pastor Cecil’s DailyEvotional emails by clicking on the Subscribe button above.

Share the Lord with someone by directing them to https://PastorCecil.com.

If you have watched The Sands of Eternity video above and prayed the prayer at the end, please go to https://PastorCecil.com/ and use the form on the webpage to let us know so we can send you follow up resources and/or send an email to pastorcecil@dailyevotional.com and let him know.

PREPARE TO CONFESS!

1 John 1:9 – Devotional

1 John 1:9

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.“

One morning I was waiting at a stoplight about to proceed when suddenly a car ran the red light and careened past me, narrowly missing my left front fender. Most of us will recall cars rushing into an intersection when the light had gone from amber to red, ignoring the danger and in fact, speeding up.

My experience as a police officer leads me to believe that, in almost all of such incidents the offender will deny their offense. Most often they claim, “The light was yellow when I entered the intersection!” RIGHT!

From the days when Adam and Eve sinned in the garden, human nature has not wanted to admit its guilt. Even when substantial evidence is provided, denial is still maintained. I have seen police videos showing offenders committing crimes — but even when shown these videos the offender still denies their offense. Go figure!

God wants us to be open with Him and confess our sins. Denial of our offenses will always hurt us more than others. 1 John 1:9 tells us that it is only when we confess our sins that the Lord is able to forgive and cleanse us. Our denial blocks the path of God’s forgiving grace. DON’T DENY IT!

Blessings dear hearts! Walk with God today and be a blessing!

– – – Pastor Cecil

Share a blessing by inviting your friends and family to subscribe to Pastor Cecil’s DailyEvotional emails by clicking on the Subscribe button above.

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If you have watched The Sands of Eternity video above and prayed the prayer at the end, please go to https://PastorCecil.com/ and use the form on the webpage to let us know so we can send you follow up resources and/or send an email to pastorcecil@dailyevotional.com and let him know.

JESUS PAID IT ALL​​!

1 John 1:9 – Devotional

1 John 1:9

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

As we continue toward Easter and Jesus Christ’s atoning death on the cross, we are reminded of the much beloved hymn that many of us sang years gone by, Jesus Paid It All.

Elvina M. Hall penned the words and here they are for us to contemplate today:

I hear the Savior say,
“Thy strength indeed is small,
Child of weakness, watch and pray,
Find in Me thine all in all.”

Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.

Lord, now indeed I find
Thy pow’r and Thine alone,
Can change the leper’s spots
And melt the heart of stone.

Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.

For nothing good have I
Where-by Thy grace to claim;
I’ll wash my garments white
In the blood of Calv’ry’s Lamb.

Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.

And when, before the throne,
I stand in Him complete,
“Jesus died my soul to save,”
My lips shall still repeat.

Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

You can enjoy this week’s inspirational video, “Jesus Paid It All” from GloryScapes by going to: https://gloryscapes.com/jesuspaiditall/

Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today and be a blessing!

– – – Pastor Cecil

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Share the Lord with someone by directing them to https://PastorCecil.com.

TRUE LOVE!

1 John 4:7 – Devotional

1 John 4:7

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.“

Today, February 14th, is Valentine’s Day. If you have not yet purchased that card, a romantic gift, or whatever, you had better get busy! There is very little time left to get that special something which will demonstrate in a meaningful way the feelings of love for that special someone in your life.

Unfortunately, there is phony (or fictitious) love present in our world that is often the result of selfish and greedy emotions. People often want things for themselves and use love as a tool to obtain what they think will satisfy their demands.

If my precious wife, Joyce, was still alive, we would be celebrating 72 years of marriage this July. I can honestly say that my love for her is far deeper even though she has gone to be with our Lord. There is an important reason for our successful life of love and growth together — we kept the Lord at the center of our marriage.

Perhaps the greatest gift you can give your loved one this Valentine’s Day is to share together the precious love of God; commit yourself to allow His love to be expressed through you in your actions as well as in your words.

May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!

– – – Pastor Cecil

Share a blessing by inviting your friends and family to subscribe to Pastor Cecil’s DailyEvotional emails by clicking on the Subscribe button above.

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If you have watched The Sands of Eternity video above and prayed the prayer at the end, please go to https://PastorCecil.com/ and use the form on the webpage to let us know so we can send you follow up resources and/or send an email to pastorcecil@dailyevotional.com and let him know.