Therefore produce fruit consistent with repentance. Repent - turn 180 degrees and walk. The turning is crucial. The walking is key. To simply turn and stand is only the beginning. True repentance produces fruit that speaks of its authenticity. True repentance will bring good works that clearly display the change that has occurred by the … Continue reading Fruitful Repentance – Matthew 3:8
Author: Wen
Righteousness Displayed – Matthew 1:19
So her husband Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly. We see the righteousness of Joseph right from the beginning in his desire not to publicly humiliate Mary because of her apparent infidelity. This is no small matter when you consider that Joseph must reasonably … Continue reading Righteousness Displayed – Matthew 1:19
God’s Luminescent Glory – Revelation 21:22-23
Revelation 21:22-23 And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. At last we will be … Continue reading God’s Luminescent Glory – Revelation 21:22-23
Our Righteousness – Malachi 3:3-4
He will be like a refiner and purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver. Then they will present offerings to the Lord in righteousness. And the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will please the Lord as in days of old and years gone by. As … Continue reading Our Righteousness – Malachi 3:3-4
The Questions of Christ – John 18:23
“If I have spoken wrongly,” Jesus answered him, “give evidence about the wrong; but if rightly, why do you hit Me?” Jesus opens up even His direct accusers and eventual murderers with a question. Even as He is being marched to His death, He is approaching people in such a way as to open them … Continue reading The Questions of Christ – John 18:23
Irony – John 18:20-21
“I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus answered him. “I have always taught in the synagogue and in the temple complex, where all the Jews congregate, and I haven’t spoken anything in secret. Why do you question Me? Question those who heard what I told them. Look, they know what I said.” The irony … Continue reading Irony – John 18:20-21
Provoking God – 2 Chronicles 33:6
He passed his sons through the fire in the Valley of Hinnom. He practiced witchcraft, divination, and sorcery, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did a great deal of evil in the LORD’S sight, provoking Him. Provoking the Sovereign God of the Universe just doesn’t seem like a good idea. The original sin of the … Continue reading Provoking God – 2 Chronicles 33:6
The Mark of a Disciple – John 13:34-35
“I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” It is interesting how we Christians designate and identify ourselves - Baptist, Methodist, Church of Christ, … Continue reading The Mark of a Disciple – John 13:34-35
Betrayal, Suffering, Humiliation and Glory – John 13:31-32
When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him. If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself and will glorify Him at once." There is a difficult, mysterious truth contained in this passage. Glory follows betrayal and is associated … Continue reading Betrayal, Suffering, Humiliation and Glory – John 13:31-32
Sons of the Light – John 12:36
"While you have the light, believe in the light so that you may become sons of light.” Jesus said this, then went away and hid from them. It is faith that makes one a 'son of the light'. Jesus is the Light and He calls us to believe. Through believing we are reckoned as children … Continue reading Sons of the Light – John 12:36
The Pride of Success – 2 Chronicles 26:16
But when he was strong his heart was lifted up, to his destruction, for he transgressed against the Lord his God by entering the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense. The pride of success is the death knell for so many men. We have such a strong tendency to … Continue reading The Pride of Success – 2 Chronicles 26:16
Ends and Means – John 11:50
You’re not considering that it is to your advantage that one man should die for the people rather than the whole nation perish. In this one brief statement, these leaders' overarching philosophy of "the ends justifies the means" is clearly revealed. Whatever it takes to protect their place in the world must be pursued. Whatever … Continue reading Ends and Means – John 11:50
Security – John 10:28
I give them eternal life, and they will never perish — ever! No one will snatch them out of My hand. The security we have in Christ is profound. He makes it clear that no other one can remove us from His protection and care. It could even be argued that we cannot remove ourselves; … Continue reading Security – John 10:28
Dull Ears, Hard Hearts – Zechariah 7:13
Therefore it happened, that just as He proclaimed and they would not hear, so they called out and I would not listen,” says the Lord of hosts. If men consistently refuse to listen, God refuses to waste His breath speaking to them. Silence from God as a result of our refusal to hear is an … Continue reading Dull Ears, Hard Hearts – Zechariah 7:13
Legalistic Condemnation – John 9:30-34
“This is an amazing thing,” the man told them. “You don’t know where He is from, yet He opened my eyes! We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but if anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He listens to him. Throughout history no one has ever heard of someone opening the eyes of … Continue reading Legalistic Condemnation – John 9:30-34
Eternal Life – John 8:51
Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death. Only One who has ultimate authority over death can make such a claim. The one who keeps the Word of Jesus Christ will not see death. What greater promise is found in this life? None. Nothing compares to this … Continue reading Eternal Life – John 8:51
Prideful Perspective – John 7:45-49
Then the temple police came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why haven’t you brought Him?” The police answered, “No man ever spoke like this!” Then the Pharisees responded to them: “Are you fooled too? Have any of the rulers or Pharisees believed in Him? But this crowd, which doesn’t know the … Continue reading Prideful Perspective – John 7:45-49
Condemning Assumptions – John 7:50-52
Nicodemus — the one who came to Him previously, being one of them — said to them, “Our law doesn’t judge a man before it hears from him and knows what he’s doing, does it?” “You aren’t from Galilee too, are you?” they replied. “Investigate and you will see that no prophet arises from Galilee.” … Continue reading Condemning Assumptions – John 7:50-52
Assuming – John 7:42-43
Doesn’t the Scripture say that the Messiah comes from David’s offspring and from the town of Bethlehem, where David once lived?” So a division occurred among the crowd because of Him. Uninformed assumptions naturally lead to bad conclusions. It appears that none of these have made much effort to find out where Jesus is really … Continue reading Assuming – John 7:42-43
The Power of Praise – 2 Chronicles 20:21-22
Then he consulted with the people and appointed some to sing for the Lord and some to praise the splendor of His holiness. When they went out in front of the armed forces, they kept singing: Give thanks to the Lord, for His faithful love endures forever. The moment they began their shouts and praises, … Continue reading The Power of Praise – 2 Chronicles 20:21-22
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