John 14.31 reminds us that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what My Father
has commanded Me.
When Jesus was wrapping up His earthly visitation He summarized His work as a world-wide example of love. Love for the Father and love for the people of the world past, present and future was to be how His work is defined.
What did this love look like? (more…)
John 12.45 describes the one who looks at Me is seeing the One who sent Me.
Jesus is unique among all historic figures and religious leaders for He declared Himself to be God. Here Jesus says when we look at Him we see God.
Jesus is God visible. Jesus is God tangible. Jesus is God recognizable. Jesus is God identifiable.
What do we see when we look at Jesus? (more…)
Revelation 9.20-21 records the rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not
repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk. Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.
While most people believe if there is a God that He is loving and good, and He is, they extrapolate from this that He will not punish people for their disobedience against His will. Nothing could be further from the truth, at least the truth recorded in the Bible.
God appears to allow us to get away with our disobedience today because He desires us to ask His forgiveness and reconcile ourselves to Him before we die. It is God’s desire to restore us not condemn us but failure to seek Him for restoration in this life will result in eternal separation from Him in the life to come. (more…)
2 Chronicles 17.4 tells us he sought the God of his father and followed His commands rather than the
practices of Israel.
What do you do when the previous administration created chaos, hard times and a smaller economy? The opposite of that administration!
Jehoshaphat watched his father’s kingdom crumble after he turned his back on God. Jehoshaphat resolved to seek God and do what He commands turning his back on the gods and ways of his wicked father. The result was a resounding success personally and for his kingdom. (more…)
2 Chronicles 16.9 promises the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose
hearts are fully committed to Him.
This declaration was made by the prophet to the king of Judah who had just exhibited unfaithfulness to the Lord. How was he unfaithful? By not seeking God for help but looking to others to rescue him during his time of need.
Its normal for us to solve our own problems or seek help from others when those troubles are larger than our own resources. This kind of living is defined by God as being wise in our own eyes. (more…)
Luke 18.42 comments your faith has healed you. God begins His teaching in this section by telling us to
pray with perseverance.
When Jesus makes His comment it is to a man who persevered in crying out to Him despite rebuke and demands to stop, in the end, His perseverance was rewarded. What’s interesting is that God said it was the man’s faith that healed him. Jesus did not say it was his persevering prayer or the power of God but faith that caused his healing. (more…)
Jonah 4.2 describes, I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and
abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.
No other god in any holy book is described as loving and compassionate, gracious and slow to anger. The One True God stands alone in this characterization of Who God really is and what He is really like. (more…)
James 2.12 commands we speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives
freedom.
God plans to judge everyone. We inherently know this to be true yet suppress it as much as possible from our conscience. When we do think about God holding us accountable we normally give ourselves a passing grade as to our adherence to His commands.
The answer to what God will judge us on and how He will judge us has all been revealed by God so that we can pass the test. (more…)
1 Chronicles 10:13-14 explains, Saul died because he was unfaithful to the Lord; he did not keep the word of the Lord and even consulted a medium for guidance, and did not inquire of the Lord. So the Lord put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse.
Imagine being hand chosen by God to be the first king over His people. Pretty high honor. You would also think the vetting process would have been the best. Yet, like the first man created, Adam, this first king was a failure. (more…)
Luke 1.15 promises he will be great in the sight of the Lord.
Few men don’t desire to be great. Its inherent to our nature. It comes from our origin: we are made in the image of God.
God is great and ever increasing in glory so too those made in His image aspire to greatness. Since being kicked out of paradise for our rebellion we have perverted the object or goal of our greatness. Most of us want others to see and recognize us as great, the reason our natural desire is perverted. (more…)
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