So [Jesus] stood over [Peter’s mother-in-law] and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up immediately and began to serve them. (Luke 4:39) ...
Running Again (Or, “How the Worst Itch Ever Reminded me of the Best Fix of All”) The itch was so bad I could barely stand ...
For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness (for the law made nothing perfect); but on ...
[The people] got up, drove Him out of town and brought Him to the edge of the hill their town was built on, intending to ...
You are my beloved Son. I take delight in you. (Luke 3:22b) The steadfast, unchanging posture of God the Father toward God the Son is ...
Therefore produce fruit consistent with repentance. And don’t start saying to yourself, “We have Abraham as our father,” for I tell you that God is ...
Prepare the way for the Lord; make His paths straight. (Luke 3:4b) John’s job was to ready the masses to receive the Messiah. His task ...
Therefore, holy brothers [and sisters], you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession… (Hebrews 3:1) Jesus ...
And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and with people. (Luke 2:52) Would you increase in your stature and standing ...
While they were there [in Bethlehem], the time came for [Mary] to give birth. (Luke 2:6) We live in a world of instant weather reports ...
[Jesus] is the radiance of the glory of God, and the exact imprint of His nature, and He upholds the universe by the word of ...
But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them. (Luke 2:19) Wonderful things were happening to Mary, and she ...
Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day, and ...
And when the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were finished, [Joseph and Mary] brought [Jesus] up to Jerusalem to present ...
God’s Hope for Your Heart from 2 Timothy 3 GOD’S WORD PREPARES YOU FOR GOD’S WORK All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable ...
When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has ...
Sometimes what we need most is not easy answers, but deeper questions. The other day, I watched homeless people being served by Christians. From my perch high atop a parking garage in Fort Lauderdale, FL, I could see the crowd gather, hear the coordinator pray as she started the feeding …
TOPICS: church, good works, homeless, homelessness, mercy, ministry, service, social justice
What truly fills your heart? “Singers and dancers alike say [of Zion], ‘all my fountains are in You.’” -Psalm 87:7 There are a thousand marketing campaigns that tell us where we will find peace and refreshment. There are billions of dollars spent to try and convince us that this product …
TOPICS: fountains, fulfillment, joy, peace, Psalm 87, refreshing, satisfaction, Zion
Ever feel like your heart is spread too thin? “Teach me Your way, O Lord, that I may walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear Your name.” -Psalm 86:11 What a multitude of directions my heart pursues! How easy it is to become so fragmented in my …
TOPICS: fear of the lord, focus, heart, passion, prayer, Psalm 86
Is it wrong to pray punishment on other people? “Fill their faces with shame [so] THAT they may seek Your name, O Lord. Let them be put to shame and dismay forever; let them perish in disgrace, [so] THAT they may know that You alone, whose name is the Lord, …
TOPICS: justice, Psalm 83, punishment, revenge, vengeance
What do motives matter when we do things for God? “For whatever does not come from faith is sin.” -Romans 14:23b It is quite possible to do godly thing for ungodly reasons, and the Bible calls this sin. It is quite possible to do things with godly motives and still …
TOPICS: faith, good works, Romans 14
What if you’re living right, but aren’t being blessed like you want? But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. …
TOPICS: answers, blessings, faith, hope, Luke 6, prayer, selfishness
A friend of mine sent me a great question the other day: When it says “give and it shall be given unto you, good measure pressed down, shaken together, running over,” could that be financially, spiritually, relationally, etc.? I always only thought of it as financially. Here are some thoughts …
TOPICS: giving, grace, Luke 6, measure, mercy
Ever feel like you’re all alone, like no one understands or agrees with you in your faith? At the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace.” -Romans 11:5 All throughout Scripture runs a thread of the loneliness of God’s people in a world turned against Him. Elijah the …
TOPICS: faith, grace, loneliness, provision, Romans 11
Christians often talk about having “fruit” in our lives, but how do you get it? But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.” -Romans 6:22 “The fruit you get.” Notice …
TOPICS: fruit, Romans 6, salvation, sanctification
True “freedom” isn’t found in having no master, but in finding a better one. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace… and having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.” -Romans 6:14, 18 In Christ, though we …
TOPICS: freedom, Romans 6, slavery
