Why people flocked to John

Then people from Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the vicinity of the Jordan were flocking to [John], and they were baptized by him in the Jordan River as they confessed their sins. (Matthew 3:5-6) Why did people flock to John? Some came out of curiosity, to be sure, perhaps even many or most of them. Yet, even […]
More than Mary

Mary the mother of Jesus was incredibly special, but did you know there’s someone else Jesus says is even more blessed than her?
True Salvation (Luke 8:4-15)

The Parable of the Sower and the Soils As a large crowd was gathering, and people were flocking to Him from every town, [Jesus] said in a parable: “A sower went out to sow his seed. As he was sowing, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the sky […]
Consistent Fruit (Luke 3:8)

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 able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones! (Luke 3:8) There’s no point in saying “Jesus changed my life” if your life hasn’t really changed. Anyone can pray […]
Jesus wants to set you free from works

So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from His. (Hebrews 4:9-10) Did God get tired and need a break after His work of creation? Of course not. He rested to set an example for us. […]
Working Within the System (Luke 2:22-24)

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 Him to the Lord (just as it is written in the law of the Lord: “Every firstborn male will be dedicated to the Lord”) and to offer a sacrifice (according to what […]
Spirit-led service leads to joy

God’s Hope for Your Heart from Romans 7 SPIRIT-LED SERVICE LEADS TO JOY But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code. (Romans 7:6) Obligation strips the joy out […]
God wants to free your heart

God’s Hope for Your Heart from Romans 2 GOD WANTS TO FREE YOUR HEART For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not […]
God is working in the background

God’s Hope for Your Heart from Acts 10 GOD IS WORKING IN THE BACKGROUND Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, stood at the gate and called out to ask whether Simon […]
God brings answers as you go

God’s Hope for Your Heart from Luke 17 GOD BRINGS ANSWERS AS YOU GO As [Jesus] entered a village, He was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” When He saw them He said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the […]