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Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. John 12:35 In pursuing faith and recovery, I’ve believed in and looked to the Bible for answers. I prefer concrete, explicit instructions, and sometimes, I’m frustrated by all the metaphors about seeds, plants and light. In todays’ passage, Jesus commanded us to walk in the…
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They loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God. John 12:43 I grew up being a people-pleaser. I’ve derived much instant, but fleeting, gratification from those who’ve confirmed that I’m kind, smart, and successful. I dislike that I’ve craved this affirmation, but my annoyance hasn’t actually overridden my…
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Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. John 12:24 For the last several years, I’ve been about 20 pounds overweight. I used to be a lot heavier, and I’ve lost considerable weight, but I’ve not quite been able to get…
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Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. John 12:25 As Christians, we believe that we have some responsibility to share our faith with those around us. In our desire that others come to faith, we’re tempted to become salesman for God. In…
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So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” John 12:13 In treatment for chemical dependency, the addict is surrounded by those who encourage him in his sobriety. With the distractions of…
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So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus. John 12:10 By the time the coronavirus quarantine began, I’d bought into the belief that we should try to slow the spread of the virus by…
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He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. John 12:6 Addiction isn’t just about drugs or alcohol. Whenever I talk to those who struggle with gambling or those who overeat…
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Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor? John 12:5 Over the years, we’ve spent countless hours on Rook, our family card game. Though we all know how to play, we don’t all hold our cards the same. Some of us hold our cards counting from left to…
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Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. John 12:3 My visit to inpatient chemical dependency treatment (2014) was not my first attempt at recovery. I’d completed out-patient treatment twice prior to that. Both times, I applied the…
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It is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish. John 11:51 In my recovery, I’ve felt tremendous guilt over the things I’ve done to hurt myself and others. I’ve found peace in knowing I’m forgiven by God and in working at living differently every…
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