Jesus is your guaranteed inheritance

For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.  Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.  (Hebrews 10:34-35) The world has its values system of what matters and […]

Jesus’ second ministry: the WORD (Luke 5:1)

As the crowd was pressing in on Jesus to hear God’s word, He was standing by Lake Gennesaret.  (Luke 5:1) People came for the miracles, but they stayed for the message.  They were drawn in by the wonders, but they were hungry for the word. Credibility and interest can be built by the supernatural power […]

Jesus offered himself for you

How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.  (Hebrews 9:14) There were powerful people who conspired against Jesus, but they were not the ones that put Him on the cross. Many enemies wanted […]

Jesus’ first ministry: the WONDERS (Luke 4:42)

When it was day, [Jesus] went out and made His way to a deserted place.  But the crowds were searching for Him.  They came to Him and tried to keep Him from leaving them.  (Luke 4:42) The people were astounded at the miracles Jesus did.  When He healed, it was authentic.  When He cast out demons, […]

Jesus is your conduit of mercy

“For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.”  (Hebrews 8:12) Guilt is a powerful motivator.  It can change habits and open handbags, clean up words and free up wallets.  Yet, in the life of a Christian, guilt is not of God. Conviction is the sorrowful sense that something is […]

Service (Luke 4:39)

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) In the culture of Jesus’ day, it was customary and expected for a woman to serve as a hostess whenever guests were in her home.  So, the fact that Peter’s mother-in-law […]

Running Again

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 it. There I was, surrounded by the beauty of a fresh sunrise, sidewalk-jogging past a serene waterway and a meticulously trimmed golf course, and all I could think of was […]

Jesus is your better hope

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 other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God. (Hebrews 7:18-19) There are many substitute saviors in this life.  For the Jewish people, it was […]

Defending Jesus (Luke 4:29-30)

[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 hurl Him over the cliff.  But He passed right through the crowd and went on His way.  (Luke 4:29-30) Jesus has no need of a bodyguard.  He is not helpless […]

Jesus is the anchor of your soul

We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf… (Hebrews 6:19-20a) Of all the storms in this life, perhaps none is more troubling than uncertainty.  Bad news and hard times can at least […]