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 […]
God has greater truths for you
But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. (Hebrews 5:14) Good parents don’t give car keys to their toddler and put them behind the wheel on the freeway. Yet, certainly they hope their child grows up to drive someday, and […]
God’s Word prepares you for God’s work
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 for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17) God has a goal for […]
God’s Word is your firm foundation
God’s Hope for Your Heart from Matthew 24 GOD’S WORD IS YOUR FIRM FOUNDATION Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. (Matthew 24:35) There are many things in this world on which to build your life. You can build it on your achievements, always seeking one more win to validate […]
God’s Word is your empowering perspective
Scripture Notes on Psalm 119:89-176 If Your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. I will never forget Your precepts, for by them You have given me life. (Psalm 119:92-93) Discouragement can destroy your life. When affliction arrives, often it’s not the hardness of the circumstance that’s most deadly to […]
Bible Translations: KJV vs. NIV (pt1)
Is the NIV truly “Apostasy in print”? As a pastor, I often get questions about the Bible. This is a good thing, of course, not only because people need a place to go with questions, but also because it gives me the chance to study topics and ideas I may not normally have the occasion […]
Sweeter than Honey
“What does he know that I don’t?” David, the writer of Psalm 119, says, “How sweet your words taste to me; they are sweeter than honey.” (Psalm 119:103) Granted, there are some nice things in the Bible, but really, “sweeter than honey?” Here’s what David understands that we often miss when we read the Scriptures. ALL […]
Hidden Treasure, part 2
Why bother with the genealogies in the Bible? For most of us (myself included), it’s hard to really “get something” out of the long lists of names scattered throughout the Bible. However, with a little digging, you can find some pretty interesting things. For instance… Matthew 1:1-11 records the genealogy of Jesus Christ. I was […]
On Reading
Do not so quickly rush by what you read that it has no opportunity to take hold of your heart and take root in your mind. Be still for a moment. Breathe. Write. Think. Pray. Be aware of the words you’ve just read, and let them have their way in you, for it is often […]
Prayer for 08/26/10
O God, Let me read your word, let me know your word. Let me hear your word, let me heed your word. Let me love your word, let me live your word. Let me not simply read your word, but Let me open myself so that it might read me. Let me not simply live […]
