#0002541

"Why then was the law given? It was given alongside the promise to show people their sins. But the law was designed to last only until the coming of the child who was promised. God gave His law through angels to Moses, who was the mediator between God and the people(Gal3:19). Now a mediator is helpful if more than one party must reach an agreement. But God, who is one, did not use a mediator when He gave His promise to Abraham(v20). Is there a conflict, then, between God's law and God's promises? Absolutely not! If the law could give us new life, we could be made right with God by obeying it(v21). But the Scriptures declare that we are all prisoners of sin, so we receive God's promise of freedom only by believing in Jesus Christ(Galatians3:22)."

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#0002542

"Before the way of faith in Christ was available to us, we were placed under guard by the law. We were kept in protective custody, so to speak, until the way of faith was revealed(Galatians3:23). Let me put it another way. The law was our guardian until Christ came; it protected us until we could be made right with God through faith(v24). And now that the way of faith has come, we no longer need the law as our guardian(v25). For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus(v26). And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes(v27). There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus(v28). And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are His heirs, and God's promise to Abraham belongs to you(Gal3:29)."

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#0002543

"Think of it this way. If a father dies and leaves an inheritance for his young children, those children are not much better off than slaves until they grow up, even though they actually own everything their father had(Gal4:1). They have to obey their guardians until they reach whatever age their father set(v2). And that's the way it was with us before Christ came. We were like children; we were slaves to the basic spiritual principles of this world(v3). But when the right time came, God sent His Son, born of a woman, subject to the law(v4). God sent Him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that He could adopt us as His very own children(v5). And because we are His children, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, 'Abba, Father'(v6). Now you are no longer a slave but God's own child. And since you are His child, God has made you His heir(Galatians4:7)."

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#0002544

"Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and prayed, 'Who am I, O Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far(2Samuel7:18) And now, Sovereign Lord, in addition to everything else, you speak of giving your servant a lasting dynasty! Do you deal with everyone else this way, O Sovereign Lord(v19)? What more can I say to You? You know what your servant is really like, Sovereign Lord(v20). Because of your promise and according to your will, you have done all these great things and have made them known to your servant(v21). How great You are, O Sovereign Lord! There is no one like You. We have never even heard of another God like You'(2Sam7:22)."

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#0002545

If you have been enriched by God's goodness and grace, respond to Him with your grateful devotion...- Tyndale NLT, Life Application Bible..... Isaiah26:12 "Lord, You will grant us peace; all we have accomplished is really from You."

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#0002546

"Now go and say to My servant David, 'This is what the Lord of Heaven's Armies has declared: I took you from tending sheep in the pasture and selected you to be the leader of My people Israel(2Samuel7:8). I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before your eyes. Now I will make your name as famous as anyone who has ever lived on the earth(v9). And I will provide a homeland for My people Israel, planting them in a secure place where they will never be disturbed. Evil nations won't oppress them as they've done in the past(v10), starting from the time I appointed judges to rule My people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies(2Sam7:11)."

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#0002547

"So obey the commands of the Lord your God by walking in His ways and fearing Him(Deuteronomy8:6). For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land of flowing streams and pools of water, with fountains and springs that gush out in the valleys and hills(v7). It is a land of wheat and barley; of grapevines, fig trees, and pomegranates; of olive oil and honey(v8). It is a land where food is plentiful and nothing is lacking. It is a land where iron is as common as stone, and copper is abundant in the hills(v9). When you have eaten your fill, be sure to praise the Lord your God for the good land He has given you(v10). But that is the time to be careful! Beware that in your plenty you do not forget the Lord your God and disobey His commands, regulations, and decrees that I am giving you today(Deut8:11)."

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#0002548

"For when you have become full and prosperous and have built fine homes to live in(Deut8:12), and when your flocks and herds have become very large and your silver and gold have multiplied along with everything else, be careful(v12)! Do not become proud at that time and forget the Lord your God, who rescued you from slavery in the land of Egypt(v14). Do not forget that He led you through the great and terrifying wilderness with its poisonous snakes and scorpions, where it was so hot and dry. He gave you water from the rock(v15)! He fed you manna in the wilderness, a food unknown to your ancestors. He did this to humble you and test you for your own good(Deuteronomy8:16)."

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#0002549

Stop thinking about your difficulties, whatever they are, and start thinking about God instead...- Emmet Fox.......Mark8:34-38 "And when He called the people unto Him with His disciples also, He said unto them, 'Whosoever will come after Me, let Him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for My sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his own soul? Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of Me and of My Words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."

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#0002550

An undivided heart, which worships God alone and trusts him as it should, is raised above all anxiety for earthly wants...- J.C.Geikie.....Isaiah40:31 "But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint."

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#0002551

Even the most allegedly divine of families are unhappy in their own ways...- Tolstoy.....Matthew12:48-50 "Jesus asked, 'Who is My mother? Who are My brothers?' Then He pointed to his disciples and said, 'Look, these are My mother and brothers. Anyone who does the will of My Father in Heaven is My brother and sister and mother!'"

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#0002552

"A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad(Mat12:33). You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say(v34). A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart(v35). And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgement day for every idle word you speak(v36). The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you(Matthew12:37)."

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#0002553

Our whole life is taken up with anxiety for personal security, with preparations for living, so that we really never live at all...- Leo Tolstoy........Mat13:16,17 "But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but they didn't see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn't hear it."

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#0002554

"Ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father(Rom8:15).- Jesus replied, 'If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask Me, and I would give you living water(Jn4:10).- But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life(Jn4:14).- If any man thirst, let him come unto Me and drink. This spake He of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive(Jn7:37,39).- Prove Me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of Heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it(Mal3:10).- Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find(Luk11:13)."

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#0002555

"Grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and for ever(2Pet3:18).- The God of all grace(1Pet5:10).- Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ(Jn1:17).- God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God(Eph2:8). Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it(v9). For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago(Eph2:10)."

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#0002556

"He will be gracious and say, 'Rescue him from the grave, for I have found a ransom for his life'(Job33:24). Then his body will become as healthy as a child's, firm and youthful again(v25). When he prays to God, he will be accepted. And God will receive him with joy and restore him to good standing(v26). He will declare to his friends, 'I sinned and twisted the truth, but it was not worth it'(v27). God rescued me from the grave, and now my life is filled with light(Job33:28)."

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#0002557

We must not measure greatness from the mansion down, but from the manger up...- Jesse L. Jackson.......Isaiah61:10,11 "I am overwhelmed with joy in the Lord my God! For He has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness. I am like a bridegroom in his wedding suit or a bride with her jewels. The Sovereign Lord will show His justice to the nations of the world. Everyone will praise Him! His righteousness will be like a garden in early spring, with plants springing up everywhere."

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#0002558

"Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding(Prv3:13).- Whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the Lord(Prv8:35).- Thus saith the Lord, 'Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might: . . . but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth Me, that I am the Lord'(Jer9:23,24).- The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom(Prv9:10)."

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#0002559

"I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ(v8) and become one with Him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God's way of making us right with Himself depends on faith(Phi3:9).- In Whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge(Col2:3).- Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength(Prv8:14).- Christ Jesus, . . . is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption(1Cor1:30).- He that winneth souls is wise(Prv11:30)."

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#0002560

We have a lot of anxieties, and one cancels out another very often...- Winston Churchill.....Psalm121: 1,2 "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord."

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#0002561

Once the game is over the king and the pawn go back in the same box...- Italian Proverb........1Cor1:26,27 "Not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty."

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#0002562

To love another person is to help them love God...- Sren Aaby Kierkegaard......John1:16 "Of His fulness have all we received, and grace for grace."

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#0002563

"Don't be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil(Prv3:7). Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones(v8). Honor the Lord with your wealth and with with the best part of everything you produce(v9). Then He will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with good wine(Proverbs3:10)."

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#0002564

"May our sons flourish in their youth like well-nurtured plants. May our daughters be like graceful pillars, carved to beautify a palace(Psa144:12).- We know that all things work together for good to them that love God(Rom8:28).- You stand up to judge those who do evil, O God, and to rescue the oppressed of the earth(Psa76:9). Human defiance only enhances your glory, for you use it as a weapon(v10). Make vows to the Lord your God, and keep them. Let everyone bring tribute to the Awesome One(v11). For He breaks the pride of princes, and the kings of the earth fear Him(Psalm76:12)."

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#0002565

You're never as good as everyone tells you when you win, and you're never as bad as they say when you lose...- Lou Holtz.....Jn12:27 "Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour."

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#0002566

We have to fight them daily, like fleas, those many small worries about the morrow, for they sap our energies...- Etty Hillesum.....Psalm104:34 "My meditation of Him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the Lord."

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#0002567

"The wisdom of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God(1Cor1:18). As the Scriptures say, 'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and discard the intelligence of the intelligent'(v19). So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, and the world's brilliant debaters? God has made the wisdom of this world look foolish(v20). Since God in His wisdom saw to it that the world would never know Him through human wisdom, He has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe(v21). It is foolish to the Jews, who ask for signs from heaven. And it is foolish to the Greeks who ask for human wisdom(v22). So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it's all nonsense(1Cor1:23 )."

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#0002568

"But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God(1Cor1:24). This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God's weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength(v25). Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world's eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you(v26). Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And He chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful(1Cor1:27)."

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#0002569

"God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important(1Cor1:28). As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God(v29). God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made Him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; He made us pure and holy; and He freed us from sin(v30). Therefore, as the Scriptures say, 'If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord'(1Cor1:31)."

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#0002570

"Shall not God avenge His own elect, which cry day and night unto Him, though He bear long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily(Luke18:7,8).- Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God(Psa146:5).- The Lord will not forsake His people for His great name's sake: because it hath pleased the Lord to make you His people(1Sam12:22).- The Lord your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul(Deut13:3)."

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#0002571

"When I first came to you dear brothers and sisters, I didn't use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God's secret plan(1Cor2:1). For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified(v2). I came to you in weakness--timid and trembling(v3). And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit(v4). I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God(1Cor2:5)."

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#0002572

"And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world(1Cor15:19).- Stop deceiving yourselves. If you think you are wise by this world's standards, you need to become a fool to be truly wise(1Cor3:18). For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. As the Scriptures say, 'He traps the wise in the snare of their own cleverness.' And again, 'The Lord knows the thoughts