https://youtu.be/8iL1Y4Cnrm4 “For,’ I say, ‘just as shorts cling tightly to a person’s body, so I bound the whole nation of Israel and the whole nation of Judah tightly to me.’…
Ephesians 2.7 describes, in the coming ages He might display the immeasurable riches of His grace through His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. Our eternal life, the life we…
Galatians 4.19 comments, Do you know how I feel right now, and will feel until Christ’s life becomes 
visible in your lives?
The key phrase here is ‘until Christ’s life becomes visible in your lives.’ This is the goal of God in the development of our character. We are to bear the fruit of the Spirit, doing the work of Jesus, in the way of Jesus, for the glory of God and the welfare of humanity. What does this look like? (more…)
1 Peter 4.2 observes, he spends the rest of his time on earth concerned about the will of God and not
human desires.
The focus of the Christian is to be the same focus as Jesus Christ the Lord. That focus is upon doing the will of God regardless of result or cost.
As humans we begin our lives self-focused. Everything is about us from infancy. The child portrays this truth early and often. We never evolve from this focus if we do not lose our lives by giving them over to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. This is why He observes that, unless we lose our lives for Him and His mission, we cannot keep them for eternal life. (more…)
Matthew 16.23 observes, He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling 
block to Me, because you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but on man’s.”
What are God’s interests? Do we really believe God has interests? Do we think those interests are simply that we be good?
The size of our god will determine the belief we have in that god’s interest in our life and in the world. If our god is small, distant and aloof, then that god will have only a minor interest in the world and what is going on. If our god is small then he will only be concerned with our moral behavior, setting the standard at our doing our best to be good. (more…)
Matthew 6.8 observes, your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. So why pray?
Knowing everything is an integral character quality for being God. Since God knows everything why should I pray? The God-Man, Jesus the Savior, makes this observation. So why pray?
We really can’t help but pray. We will pray. Everyone prays. We don’t have to live long on this earth before realizing we need someone greater than ourselves to be in control and to gain control of this world. In our darkest hours all people pray. (more…)
Isaiah 48.15 I have spoken – yes, I have summoned him; I lead him and he will succeed.
Everyone wants to be successful. It comes from our being created in the image of God, Who described His pleasure in making the universe and all it contains as being very good. After every thing God made He would step back and say to Himself, ‘that is good.’ When He made humanity He was even more pleased, stating, ‘this is very good.’ (more…)
Matthew 16.4 observes, only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign, but the
only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah.
People always want God to prove Himself. God always wants people to demonstrate faith in Him. These two demands are in conflict with one another.
No matter what God has done for us its never enough. Yesterday is gone and today there is a new crisis for which we seek God to do something lest we fall away. (more…)
John 5.41-42 states, your approval means nothing to Me, because I know you don’t have God’s love 
within you.
Having this attitude would certainly go a long way in helping the Church live more like Jesus. God as Man, Jesus, sought the approval of One, God the Father, but He called all those who love God and seek to obey His commands His brothers and sisters and mothers. (more…)
Nehemiah 1.11 is the prayer; O Lord, please grant me success today by making the king favorable to
me. Put it into his heart to be kind to me. In those days I was the king’s cup-bearer.
Things were bad in Nehemiah’s day, real bad. The nation of Israel, the people of God, were no longer living free under their own rule but were disbursed and distributed to the nations around them to live as slaves and servants of their captors. But some still had hope in God. (more…)
