1 Peter 4.3 observes, there has already been enough time spent in doing what
the Gentiles choose to do: carrying on in unrestrained behavior, evil desires, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and lawless idolatry.
Oh how true these words, written nearly two thousand years ago, are today: enough time has been spent carrying on in unrestrained behavior. The ‘final’ fruit of the Spirit is self-control. (more…)
1 Timothy 1.4 describes, God’s plan, which operates by faith.
God’s plan operates by faith. This means there will always be a tension in doing God’s will with the certainty that the exact thing we are doing, or the specific results we are achieving, are those we should be doing or receiving. (more…)
Matthew 4.4 answers, it is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every
word that comes from the mouth of God.
The Scripture, God’s Word, does not say, man should not, but rather, man must not, live on bread alone. Jesus, God Himself, had not eaten for forty days. It would do no good for the Savior to die of starvation rather than crucifixion. (more…)
2 Corinthians 12.10 observes, I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and in difficulties, for the sake of Christ. For
when I am weak, then I am strong.
I am not a fan of any of these things Paul says he will boast of, for when he is weak then he is strong. Paul says these things because the presence of the Lord within Him becomes increasingly obvious through Him when he is weak. (more…)
Ezekiel 7.19 describes, they will throw their silver into the streets, and their gold will seem like something filthy. Their silver and gold will be unable to save them in the day of the Lord’s wrath. They will not satisfy their appetites or fill their stomachs, for these were the stumbling blocks that brought about their iniquity.
It is our love for money that keeps us from loving God. We say we love God not money yet our love is proved by our deeds and not by our words. We don’t skip work, we work to earn the money we need to buy the things we want. Yet we skip church, we skip prayer, we skip Bible reading and study, we skip sharing Jesus with the world around us. Why? (more…)
1 Samuel 3.21 observes, the Lord continued to appear in Shiloh, because there He revealed Himself to Samuel by His word.
Most of Christendom struggles in their intimacy with God through Jesus Christ. Most Christians believe in Him but too many do not really know Him. When we share Him as Savior, we seek converts, those who will agree with our doctrine and affirm such with their prayer. However, we are very poor at making disciples. The secret to knowing God, and experiencing God, (more…)
John 4.22 proclaims, you Samaritans worship what you do not know. We worship what we do know, because salvation is from the Jews.
One of the most offensive things a person can say today is that there is only one true religion, one true way to heaven, one true God. People become offended by this because they feel it is offensive to other people. However, these same people do not seem to think that believing and advocating for many ways to heaven and many gods to get there might be offensive to the One True God. Why do we think the One True God is copacetic with people creating whatever path they choose to get to Him? (more…)
Isaiah 6.8 records, I heard the voice of the Lord asking: Who should I send? Who will go for us? I said: Here I am. Send me.
Oh that everyone in the marketplace would hear God ask them this question. In truth, God has transitioned this question to a command telling us all to go and make disciples. When God lived among us as one of us, Jesus the Savior, He said He came to change His followers into fishers of men. (more…)
Numbers 15.38-39 commands Moses, speak to the Israelites and tell them that throughout their generations they are to make tassels for
the corners of their garments, and put a blue cord on the tassel at each corner. These will serve as tassels for you to look at, so that you may remember all the Lord’s commands and obey them and not prostitute yourselves by following your own heart and your own eyes.
A few years ago the w.w.j.d. bracelets were popular, created to serve as reminders to us for asking what would Jesus do in any given situation. Of course the answer to what would Jesus do was to be found in the Scriptures and not to be determined by our own feelings. I’m not sure this part of the message ever got delivered to the adherents of the bands. (more…)
Ecclesiastes 12.14 promises, God will bring every act to judgment, including every hidden thing, whether good or evil.
Omniscient is the word we use to describe God’s ability or character, for knowing all things. This is why He can command us to do good without making a show of it – to not let our right hand know what our left hand is doing, because He sees it, knows it and will one day reward it. God will bring all of our lives to light. (more…)
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