The Biblical Person of the Day

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Michal – the King’s Daughter with a Wounded Heart

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Profile

• Name: Michal
• Time of birth: approx. 11th century BC
• Place of birth: Israel
• Time of death: unknown
• Age: unknown
• Role: daughter of Saul, wife of David

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Short Story

Michal was the daughter of King Saul and became the wife of David. Her story was marked by love, political tension, separation, and inner bitterness.

At first, Michal loved David. Saul gave her to David as his wife, but from the very beginning, their marriage stood in the shadow of Saul’s jealousy toward David.

When Saul wanted to kill David, Michal helped her husband escape. In doing so, she risked her own safety and opposed her father’s plan.

Later, Michal was separated from David and given to another man. Her life was deeply shaped by decisions that others made for her.

When David became king, he brought Michal back. Yet much between them had already been broken, and their former love was overshadowed by distance and pain.

Michal became especially known for the moment when David danced before the ark of the covenant. She despised him in her heart and criticized him sharply.

Her story shows how deeply wounds can shape a heart. It makes clear that bitterness can destroy relationships when pain is not healed.

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The Decisive Moment

Michal despised David when he danced before the Lord, revealing the bitterness that had formed in her heart.

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7 Special Facts About Michal

1. She was the daughter of King Saul
2. She was the sister of Jonathan
3. She loved David at first
4. She helped David escape from Saul
5. She was later separated from David
6. After David’s rise, she was brought back to him
7. She despised David when he danced before the ark of the covenant

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Strengths & Weaknesses

courageous
loyal at first
ready to act
able to protect with determination
became bitter
despised David’s expression of joy before God

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The Mistake That Shaped Her

Michal allowed pain and disappointment to turn into contempt and bitterness.
Her story shows that a wounded heart needs healing so that it does not become hard.

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Key Verse

“When she saw King David leaping and dancing, she despised him in her heart.” (2 Samuel 6:16)

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The Life Lesson

Unhealed pain can harden the heart and destroy relationships.

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Application for Today

Be careful that disappointments do not quietly turn into bitterness. Seek healing before your heart becomes hard.

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A Question for You

Where do you need healing today so that pain does not turn into contempt?

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Context

Michal lived during the time of Saul and David, in a period of great political and family tension in Israel.

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Connection

Michal was the daughter of Saul, the sister of Jonathan, and the first wife of David.

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Conclusion:

Michal shows that a heart that has experienced much pain can either find healing or remain trapped in bitterness.

See you tomorrow with the next biblical person!

Her Life Story

The Life Story of Michal – Love, Loss, and a Hardened Heart

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A Daughter in the Royal Household

Michal was born as the daughter of King Saul. She grew up in the royal household of Israel, surrounded by power, prestige, and political decisions.

Yet life in the palace did not automatically mean safety or inner peace. Especially in Saul’s household, jealousy, fear, and distrust increasingly took over.

Michal lived in the midst of a family in which personal relationships were deeply shaped by power struggles and insecurity.

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Love for David

The Bible tells us that Michal loved David. This love was remarkable, because at that time David was already a rising man who was respected by the people and at the same time aroused Saul’s envy.

Saul gave Michal to David as his wife, but his intention was not merely familial or friendly. He hoped to place David in danger through this marriage.

Thus Michal’s marriage to David began under a shadow. Love was present, but it was surrounded by her father’s plans and fears.

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David’s Rescue

When Saul wanted to kill David, Michal became a crucial helper. She warned David, let him escape through a window, and in this way saved his life.

This moment revealed her courage and her willingness to stand up for David. She opposed the murderous intentions of her own father.

Michal acted decisively, even though doing so placed her in a dangerous situation.

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A Marriage Torn Apart

After David fled, Michal was separated from him. Saul later gave her to another man as his wife.

This decision was made over her life without her own voice being central. Michal became a pawn in political and family interests.

Experiences like these leave deep marks. The woman who had once loved and rescued David had to watch her life being torn apart.

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Return to David

When David later grew stronger and eventually became king, he had Michal brought back. Outwardly, an old relationship was restored.

But a relationship cannot simply be healed through an outward return. Between Michal and David lay years of separation, pain, and unresolved wounds.

What had once begun with love was now overshadowed by coldness and distance.

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The Ark of the Covenant Comes to Jerusalem

One day, David brought the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem. For him, this was a moment of great joy and deep worship.

David danced before the Lord with complete devotion. He was not thinking about royal dignity in an outward sense, but about the joy that the ark of the covenant was coming to Jerusalem.

Michal watched him from the window. But instead of joy, she felt contempt.

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Contempt in the Heart

Michal sharply criticized David for his behavior. She did not see his dancing as an expression of devotion, but as something undignified.

At that moment, what had grown in her heart became visible. Her former love had been covered by bitterness, distance, and contempt.

Her story shows how dangerous unhealed pain can be. When wounds are not dealt with, they can harden the heart.

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The Lasting Message of Her Life

Michal shows that people can be deeply wounded by the decisions of others. Her story is not simply the story of a bitter woman, but also the story of a heart that had experienced much loss and disappointment.

Yet she also reminds us that pain must not remain untreated. When wounds do not heal, they can turn into contempt and destroy relationships.

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Closing Thought

Michal began as a woman who loved David and courageously saved him. Yet her life was shaped by separation, political decisions, and inner wounds.

In the end, she is remembered above all for a moment of contempt that showed how hard her heart had become.

Her life story shows that wounds need healing so that love does not break down into bitterness and contempt.

Source: https://fulfilleddesire.net/%f0%9f%91%a4-the-biblical-person-of-the-day-07-21-2026-%f0%9f%91%91-michal-the-kings-daughter-with-a-wounded-heart/

FIRST AND SECOND CORINTHIANS

Lesson 4: Sin in the Church

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4.3 Protecting the Church’s Identity

Preserving the Church as a Witness for Christ

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1. Introduction

In 1 Corinthians 6, Paul shows that the church must preserve its identity not only in moral matters, but also in the way believers treat one another. The Corinthians brought disputes between fellow believers before secular courts instead of resolving them in the spirit of Christ. This revealed not only a personal conflict, but also a spiritual problem. The church was acting as though it functioned according to the same standards as the world. Paul reminds them that through Christ they had been washed, sanctified, and justified. Those who belong to Christ should reflect God’s character in their conflicts, decisions, and relationships.

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2. The Biblical Foundation

Paul writes:

“How dare any of you, when you have a dispute with another, take it before the unrighteous instead of before the saints?” 1 Corinthians 6:1

Then he asks:

“Is there not even one wise person among you who can judge between one brother and another?” 1 Corinthians 6:5

He continues:

“But instead, one brother goes to court against another—and this before unbelievers!” 1 Corinthians 6:6

And he reminds the church of its new identity:

“But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Corinthians 6:11

These verses show that the church should not settle its conflicts according to worldly standards, but should act out of its new identity in Christ.

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3. Connection to Our Time

Even today, conflicts within churches can cause great harm. Sometimes they concern possessions, honor, decisions, misunderstandings, personal wounds, or struggles for power. When Christians handle their disputes in a way marked by pride, self-righteousness, and public humiliation, the witness of the church suffers. The world watches to see whether Christians truly live differently or merely speak differently. Paul reminds us that the church should be a visible witness for Christ. Therefore, conflicts must be handled with humility, wisdom, justice, and a willingness to reconcile.

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4. Central Message of the Lesson

The church protects its identity when it does not handle conflicts according to worldly standards, but as a sanctified community in Christ seeks truth, love, and reconciliation.

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5. Theological Emphasis

The central idea of this lesson is the identity of the church in Christ. Paul reminds the Corinthians that they are no longer what they once were. They have been washed, sanctified, and justified. This new identity must shape their practical behavior.

The Corinthians apparently had disputes among themselves and brought them before secular courts. Paul is not fundamentally condemning every form of civil justice. In Romans 13, he recognizes that governmental authorities have an appointed role. Here, however, he is speaking about internal conflicts between believers that should have been resolved in the spirit of Christ.

The problem was not only the dispute itself, but also the way the Corinthians dealt with it. They sought justice before people who did not judge according to the standards of the gospel. In doing so, they publicly exposed the church and showed that they had not understood their own spiritual calling.

Paul asks whether there was not a single wise person among them who could mediate between brothers. In this way, he shows that the church has a spiritual responsibility. Christians should learn to handle conflicts with God’s wisdom. They should not immediately turn to worldly methods when spiritual resolution is possible.

Another important point is that Paul describes disputes between believers as a defeat. Even when someone wins legally, something may already have been lost spiritually. When a Christian fights against a brother or sister out of pride, revenge, or greed, the spirit of Christ is not visible.

Paul even asks why they would not rather suffer wrong or allow themselves to be defrauded. This is a radical statement. It does not mean that injustice is good or that it must always be tolerated. Rather, Paul shows that the unity, love, and witness of the church may be more important than a person’s insistence on proving that they are right.

The church should be different from the world. In Roman society, courts could be influenced by status, money, and power. Those who were wealthy or influential often had advantages. Paul does not want Christians to use such worldly instruments of power against one another.

Paul then refers to various sins that exclude people from the kingdom of God, including sexual immorality, idolatry, theft, greed, and fraud. In doing so, he shows that sin takes many forms. Sexual sin is not the only danger; greed, injustice, abuse of power, and deception are also dangerous.

The theological core is this: the church must live according to what it is in Christ. It has not only been forgiven, but also sanctified. It is not merely a group of people, but a new community under the lordship of Jesus. Therefore, the way believers treat one another must demonstrate the transforming power of the gospel.

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6. Spiritual Deepening

This lesson challenges us to reflect on how we deal with conflict. Conflicts themselves cannot always be avoided. Wherever people live and serve together, misunderstandings, wounds, and differing viewpoints arise. What matters is whether we deal with them in the spirit of Christ.

Our spiritual condition is often revealed not in peaceful times, but in conflict. When everything is going well, it is easy to appear kind and spiritual. But when we are hurt, when our rights are questioned, or when we feel unfairly treated, what truly shapes our hearts becomes visible.

Paul calls us to a different attitude. His first question is not: How can I get what is rightfully mine? Instead, he asks: How can Christ remain visible? How can the church be built up? How can truth be joined with love? These questions transform the way we deal with conflict.

This does not mean that Christians should hide abuse, violence, or serious crimes within the church. Paul is not speaking here about criminal matters, but about disputes among church members. Where protection, justice, and legal responsibility are necessary, the church must not cover things up. But in internal conflicts, Christians should first seek spiritual paths toward resolution.

The identity of the church is protected when it does not act according to the spirit of the world. The world often says: Assert yourself. Win. Prove that you are right. Do not let anyone take advantage of you. Christ shows another way: humility, truth, patience, reconciliation, and a willingness to give up personal advantages.

This is difficult because our ego wants to be right. We do not want to lose, appear weak, or be treated unfairly. Yet the cross reminds us that Christ was willing to suffer injustice in order to save us. Those who follow Him will learn not to turn every personal offense into a battle.

Paul reminds the Corinthians of their past: “And that is what some of you were.” This is a powerful statement. The church consisted of people who had been called out of sin, injustice, and old patterns of life. But through Christ, they had been changed.

This reminder protects us from pride. We should not minimize sin, but neither should we forget that we ourselves live by grace. Those who remember what God rescued them from will deal with others more humbly. At the same time, they will understand that the old life must no longer rule over them.

The church is a witness for Christ. People should be able to see in it that the gospel changes not only words, but also relationships. When Christians forgive, reconcile, act justly, and care for one another, the kingdom of God becomes visible.

But when Christians attack, deceive, shame, or publicly destroy one another, the witness of the church is darkened. Paul is so serious because the honor of Christ is at stake. Through the church, the world should be able to recognize something of God’s character.

The list of different sins is also important. Paul does not isolate sexual sin. He also mentions greed, theft, fraud, and idolatry. In this way, he shows that every sin that draws the heart away from God and harms one’s neighbor threatens the life of the church.

For us, this means that we must not emphasize only certain sins while ignoring others. A church must also take greed, the pursuit of power, dishonesty, envy, pride, and injustice seriously. Holiness concerns the whole of life.

The good news is that change is possible. Paul does not only say what the Corinthians once were, but also what Christ had made them. They had been washed, sanctified, and justified. This identity is the foundation for a new life.

Therefore, we should not try to become better people by our own strength. We should live out of the new reality that Christ has given us. The Holy Spirit enables us to act differently than before: more justly, lovingly, humbly, and with a greater willingness to reconcile.

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7. Practical Application

Practical steps:

• When conflict arises, first examine your own heart and motives.
• Seek spiritual resolution before allowing a dispute to escalate.
• Ask God for wisdom, humility, and a willingness to reconcile.
• Avoid publicly exposing fellow believers when a personal conversation is possible.
• Be willing to give up your rights when doing so promotes peace and honors God.
• At the same time, take serious injustice and the need for protection seriously, and act responsibly.
• Remember that in Christ you have been washed, sanctified, and justified.
• Live in such a way that the witness of the church is strengthened rather than damaged.

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8. Reflection Question

How do I deal with conflict: according to the spirit of the world, or out of my new identity in Christ?

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9. Closing Thought

Paul reminds the Corinthians that the church must protect its identity in Christ. Disputes, self-righteousness, and worldly standards do not belong in a community that has been washed and sanctified through Jesus. The church should not handle conflicts out of pride or greed, but resolve them with wisdom, love, and responsibility. This concerns not only personal relationships, but also the witness of Christ before the world. Those who have been transformed by Christ should also live differently, handle conflict differently, and forgive differently. In this way, the church becomes a visible sign of God’s grace and holiness.

“But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified.” 1 Corinthians 6:11

Source: https://fulfilleddesire.net/%f0%9f%8c%b1living-faith-%e2%9a%a0%ef%b8%8f-lesson-4-sin-in-the-church-%f0%9f%9b%a1%ef%b8%8f-4-3-protecting-the-churchs-identity-%e2%9c%89%ef%b8%8f-first-and-second-corinthians/

July 21, 2026

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BELIEVE HIS PROPHETS

Daily Bible Reading: Job 25

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God’s Holiness and the Limits of Humanity

When Reverence Becomes Greater Than Human Pride

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Read online here

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Introduction

Bildad speaks for the last time. His speech is the shortest in the entire book of Job, yet it draws attention to an important truth: God is holy, powerful, and incomparable. At the same time, Bildad once again draws the wrong conclusion that no human being can be righteous before God. Job 25 reveals both the greatness of God and the limits of human understanding.

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Commentary

Bildad begins by praising God’s greatness. He describes God as the Ruler of heaven and earth, whose power and majesty are immeasurable. God establishes peace in the heights of heaven, and no one can escape His rule.

He reminds us that God’s armies are countless and that His light rises over all people. Everything is under His sovereign authority.

Bildad then asks the decisive question: How could a human being be righteous before such a holy God? Even the moon and the stars do not appear perfect before God’s purity. How much less a human being, who is mortal and limited.

In this, Bildad expresses a fundamental truth. No human being can make himself righteous before God by his own strength. Every person depends on God’s grace.

Yet once again, Bildad overlooks the decisive point. He uses this truth to declare Job indirectly guilty. However, at the beginning of the book, God had already described Job as upright and God-fearing. Bildad understands God’s holiness in general terms, but he does not understand God’s specific dealings with Job.

His speech ends abruptly and without comfort. It offers no answer to Job’s questions and shows no compassion for his pain. This makes it clear that even correct statements about God remain incomplete when they are not accompanied by love.

Job 25 reminds us that God’s holiness inspires reverence. At the same time, the Bible teaches that human beings cannot stand before God through their own righteousness, but only through His grace—a truth that finds its fulfillment in Jesus Christ in the New Testament.

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Summary

Job 25 contains Bildad’s final speech. He describes God’s infinite greatness and holiness and emphasizes that no human being can be righteous before God through his own strength. His statements are fundamentally true, but once again they are wrongly applied to Job’s situation.

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Message for Us Today

God’s holiness reveals our limitations. Yet it should not lead us into hopelessness, but toward His grace. No one can make himself righteous. Therefore, we can be grateful that God has opened the way to Himself through Jesus Christ.

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Reflection Question

Do you trust in your own righteousness, or in the grace of God that He gives us through Jesus Christ?

Source: https://fulfilleddesire.net/%f0%9f%93%9cbelieve-his-prophets-%f0%9f%93%96-bible-study-07-21-2026-%f0%9f%99%8f-job-%e2%9c%a8-chapter-25-gods-holiness-and-the-limits-of-humanity/

The King Is Coming Soon – Hope Beyond the End

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July 21 – The Final Warning as the Final Grace

Monthly theme: The Three Angels’ Messages – The Final Message of Grace
Annual theme for 2026: “Soon the King Will Come – Hope Beyond the End”

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Central Bible Verse of the Day

“Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people.”
— Revelation 14:6

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Devotional of the Day

The three angels’ messages are a warning, but they are not a message without love. They are serious, but not hopeless. They are clear, but not cold. When God warns the world in the last days, He does so not because His grace has come to an end, but because His grace is still calling.

A warning can be understood in different ways. When it is spoken harshly, proudly, or without love, it can hurt or drive people away. But when a warning comes from love, it becomes an expression of care. A father warns his child about danger because he loves the child. A doctor warns about an illness because he wants to save a life. God warns the world because He does not want people to be lost.

This is exactly how the three angels’ messages should be understood. They were not given to frighten people or to portray God as harsh. They are God’s final message of grace. That is why they begin with the everlasting gospel. Before God speaks about judgment, He speaks about salvation. Before He declares that Babylon has fallen, He invites people to accept the truth. Before He warns against false worship, He calls people to remain faithful to Christ.

This order reveals God’s heart. He wants people to recognize the danger, but even more, He wants them to see the Savior. Every warning from God is an open door. It says: Repent. Come out. Hold on to Christ. Do not be deceived. Worship the Creator. Remain faithful. The King is coming soon.

For God’s people, this brings great responsibility. When we share these messages, the spirit of Christ should be evident. The truth must not be watered down, but it should be carried with tears, humility, and love. For the final warning is the final grace that God gives to the world.

God Warns Because He Wants to Save

God’s warnings are an expression of His patience. He does not remain silent when danger approaches. He calls before judgment finally comes. He reveals the truth before deception completely enslaves people. In this, His mercy is revealed.

Ellen G. White wrote:

“These messages are the final warnings that will be given to the world.”

(The Great Controversy, p. 436)

These words make clear how solemn our time is. But they also show that God is still speaking. As long as His warning is heard, the door of grace is still open.

Warning in the Spirit of Christ

A serious message requires a humble messenger. Whoever shares God’s warning must not be harsh or arrogant. The message belongs to God, not to us. We are not judges of people, but witnesses of His truth and His grace.

Ellen G. White wrote:

“The final message of grace is to be given to the world in a spirit of love and gentleness.”

(Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 415)

This is essential. The world does not only need people who warn. It needs people in whom Christ can be seen. A warning without love can sound harsh. Love without truth can deceive. But truth spoken in love can reach hearts.

Grace That Is Still Calling

The three angels’ messages remind us that God is not yet finished with the world. He is still calling. He is still seeking. He is still inviting. Even people who are deeply caught in confusion, indifference, or false security have not been forgotten by God.

Therefore, we should not see the end times only as a time of crisis, but also as a time of grace. God is calling now. The Holy Spirit is working now. People can recognize the truth now, accept Christ, and prepare for His second coming.

The final warning as the final grace also asks each of us a personal question: Have I accepted God’s call myself? Am I living according to the truth I profess? Am I sharing the message with the heart of Jesus? If the King is coming soon, then today is the time to accept grace and to share grace with others.

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Prayer

Dear Father in heaven,

Thank You that Your warnings are an expression of Your love.

Help me to understand the three angels’ messages not with fear, but in the light of Your grace.

Give me a heart that loves Your truth and shares it with humility.

Protect me from harshness, pride, and indifference toward the people You desire to save.

Let my life and my words be a testimony to Your final message of grace.

Amen.

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Thought for the Day

God’s final warning is not a message of hopelessness, but a final call of His saving grace.

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Personal Application

1. Read Revelation 14:6–12.
   Where do you recognize God’s grace in these serious messages?
2. Pray: “Lord, help me to understand and share Your warning in the spirit of Your love.”
3. Practical step: Intentionally share an encouraging word today that brings truth and hope together.

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Closing Verse

“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”
— 2 Peter 3:9

Source: https://fulfilleddesire.net/%f0%9f%91%91-the-king-is-coming-soon-07-21-2026-%f0%9f%93%a2-the-final-warning-as-the-final-grace/