Experiencing the Reality of God’s Love – Happy Memorial Day! – Purity 1667
Purity 1667 05/24/2025 Purity 1667 Audio Podcast
Purity 1667 on YouTube:
Good morning,
Today’s photo of the view from atop Antone Mountain, within the Merck Forest & Farmland Center in Rupert, Vermont comes to us from yours truly as I captured this peaceful scene back on May 28th, 2023.
Well, It’s Saturday and I would like to wish everyone a very happy and blessed Memorial Day today, because I will be returning to the Merck Forest for two nights starting today and won’t be producing our normal “Bible Study with the Cincotti’s” podcast tomorrow or the regular MT4Christ247 podcast on Monday because I will be off the grid for most of the next three days, to enjoy the three day weekend, and to enjoy some quality time with my wife, TammyLyn, in a rustic cabin.
Early in our relationship, my wife and I both expressed our belief in the importance of couples spending quality time together on a regular and consistent basis. To avoid the relational pitfalls of disconnect, discontent, or neglect, we understand that we have to be intentional about being together and keeping our bond to one another strong. Even though we currently are “married two households”, we still make a point of praying for one another and meeting for Bible Study daily via our cell phones or online video chats.
As good as those means are useful to keep us connected though, there is no substitute for being in each other’s presence physically. Times like this weekend, with little to no distractions, are wonderful opportunities for TammyLyn and I to enjoy the “reality of our marriage” – we really are together as husband and wife – even without electricity and indoor plumbing!
Speaking of experiencing the reality of love, the In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley devotion for today speaks about experiencing the reality of God’s love and I am sharing it on the blog today to encourage us all to accept, receive, and experience the love that God has for us to when we place our focus on Him.
“The Reality of God’s Love
Are you convinced of God’s boundless love for you? If not, you can be.
Is there anything that prevents you from feeling confident that God loves you? Perhaps you’re convinced some sin from your past blocks His care and compassion. In that case, think about Paul. He violently persecuted Christians before he himself finally turned to the Lord. If such a man knew God loved him, would that help you realize you, too, are loved?
Whatever experiences you’re concerned about, Paul probably encountered something you can relate to. Yet he kept spreading his message of hope—that God loves us and sent His Son to die on the cross for our sins (John 3:16). Whether your situation is unfair, painful, or embarrassing, the fact that it happened doesn’t mean God has stopped loving you. Sometimes we face difficulty because He is polishing our rough edges and shaping us into His image. Other times trials instigated by Satan are allowed in our life through the Lord’s permissive will. Either way, God is working everything out to our good, according to His individualized purpose for each believer.
Here’s the key to accepting the truth of unconditional divine love: Focus on God rather than circumstances. When you’re learning of Him, talking with Him, and sharing your life with Him, trust and faith naturally replace doubt and fear.” – Dr. Charles Stanley
Amen. In this world we will have troubles but when we remember to focus on God and His unchanging, unending love for us rather than the mistakes of the past, the fears of the future, or the difficulty of our present circumstances, we find peace for today and hope for tomorrow.
As hard as it may be to believe that, when we put our faith in Jesus, not only has God forgiven us of all our sins but is actively working all the circumstances of our lives together for our good, it’s true and the only thing that prevents us from experiencing the reality of God’s love is our willingness to accept it and to respond to life accordingly.
So, as we spend the next few days to relax and to remember and honor those who paid the ultimate cost to ensure our country’s freedom, let’s also remember that Jesus paid the cost to set us free now and forever.
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For those who want more evidence for Christianity than my simple encouragements provide, I offer apologist, Frank Turek’s website, https://crossexamined.org/.
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Today’s Bible verse comes to us from “The Quick Scripture Reference for Counseling” By John G. Kruis.
(While Bible verses on various topics of Counseling can be found with a quick Google search, we encourage you to purchase this resource to support the late author’s work. (The Quick Scripture Reference for Counseling By John G. Kruis on Amazon )
This morning’s meditation verse comes from the section on Mixed Marriages.
Exodus 34:16 (NLT) Then you will accept their daughters, who sacrifice to other gods, as wives for your sons. And they will seduce your sons to commit adultery against me by worshiping other gods.
Today’s verse is the first of two passages of scripture that fall under the fourth point of our counseling reference guide resource section on Mixed Marriages.
4. God’s people are warned against mixed marriages; unbelievers will lead them to sin.
Today’s Bible verse provides us with God’s warning on being unequally yoked to a non-believer and His perspective on other “world religions”.
One of the excuses that Christians who are tempted to marry a non-believer make is that of evangelism – that their love for their non-believing spouse will cause them to put their faith in Jesus Christ and be saved.
However, in today’s verse God warns that it is equally, if not perhaps, more likely that the non-believer will unduly influence the believer to worship the non-believer’s “gods”. It also shows us that God is not accessible through many different pathways of faith, as His words likens worship to other “gods” as adultery – the biggest betrayal that we can commit in marriage.
So don’t risk being led astray by non-believers, be loyal to the Lord and choose to honor and obey your covenant with Him alone, through faith in Christ alone and through your obedience to His word that plainly tells us not to be unequally yoked.
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As always, I invite all to go to mt4christ.com where I always share insights from prominent Christian theologians and counselors to assist my brothers and sisters in Christ with their walk.
Today we continue sharing from “Day by Day Along the Way” By Jay E. Adams.
As always, I share this information for educational purposes and encourage you all to purchase Adams’ books for your own private study and to support the late author’s work. This resource is available online for less than $20 at many sites.
Day 166
Go … I send you as lambs into the midst of wolves. – Luke 10:3
That situation hasn’t changed much. Christians all over the world have been persecuted for their witness. Most of the apostles (all but one, according to tradition) were put to death for their faith. During the years since, persecution has continued. Here in America we are only at the beginning of such a time of trial. But we had better be ready for it when it comes. There are wolves out there who are sharpening their teeth, working to change our culture so that it becomes perfectly acceptable to attack Christians, and eager to pounce at that time. Roman Christians were burned by Nero in his garden on poles as torches while he rode madly among them in his chariot. Why should we be spared? We won’t be—you can count on it. Jesus knew what the 70 would face, and prepared them mentally for it. Will you be prepared if and when you must face wolves? Take heed now to all He says. Learn from Him. Prepare for the worst. Put yourself as a lamb into the hands of the good Shepherd. He cares for His flock. He will stand with you no matter what occurs.[1]
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[1] Jay E. Adams, Day by Day along the Way (Cordova, TN: Institute for Nouthetic Studies, 2020), 174.
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