Then they said to one another, “Truly we are guilty concerning our brother, because we saw the distress of his soul when he pleaded with us, yet we would not listen; therefore this distress has come upon us.” Reuben answered them, saying, “Did I not tell you, ‘Do not sin against the boy’; and you … Continue reading Concealed Sin – Genesis 42:21-22
Author: Wen
Inseparable – Romans 8:38-39
For I am persuaded that not even death or life, angels or rulers, things present or things to come, hostile powers, height or depth, or any other created thing will have the power to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord! Without such a promise, how would one … Continue reading Inseparable – Romans 8:38-39
Infused Love – Romans 5:5
This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. We have internal access to the unconditional love of God. It is supernatural. No longer are we limited to the natural, human love that flows with our emotions and is … Continue reading Infused Love – Romans 5:5
Leave Us Alone – Mark 5:17
Then they began to beg Him to leave their region. What an awful legacy this village left for themselves. They are known as the village that begged Jesus to leave. It is not even that they failed to welcome Him. They actually persuaded Him to go. Some simply cannot bear the presence of Christ and … Continue reading Leave Us Alone – Mark 5:17
What Is Your Name? – Genesis 32:27-28
So he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” He said, “Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel; for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed.” This is a critical question for God to ask Jacob since the last time his father asked for his … Continue reading What Is Your Name? – Genesis 32:27-28
Phony Fatal Friendship – Matthew 26:49
So he went right up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him. Right up until the very last minute Judas the liar is deceiving. The true sign of his friendship with Christ becomes the final act of betrayal. What a miserable being he was, Judas. As the Psalmist prophesied, " Even my closest … Continue reading Phony Fatal Friendship – Matthew 26:49
Faithless and Twisted – Matthew 17:16-17
And I brought him to your disciples, and they could not heal him.” And Jesus answered, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to me.” "O faithless and twisted generation..." My tendency when reading this statement is to … Continue reading Faithless and Twisted – Matthew 17:16-17
Seeing vs. Submitting – Luke 23:8
When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him. Just because someone wants to see Jesus does not necessarily mean they want to listen to Him and submit to His teaching. … Continue reading Seeing vs. Submitting – Luke 23:8
God’s Humble Servant – Genesis 13:9
“Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me. If you take the left hand, then I will go to the right, or if you take the right hand, then I will go to the left.” For the first time in all of my reading of the Bible this truth regarding Abram’s offer … Continue reading God’s Humble Servant – Genesis 13:9
Offended – Matthew 13:57
And they were offended by Him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his household.” How easy it is to be offended by truth and those who speak it. For the one who is nominally faithful or flat out evil-seeking, the contrast of truth and … Continue reading Offended – Matthew 13:57
Saving the Gentiles – Acts 11:18
When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.” What a blessed, revolutionary truth this is. His statement brings hope to all non-Jews. God is no respecter of persons whenever Salvation is involved. Redemption is open to all … Continue reading Saving the Gentiles – Acts 11:18
Be a Good Loser – Matthew 10:39
Anyone finding his life will lose it, and anyone losing his life because of Me will find it. There are those lives among us or who have gone before us that clearly demonstrate what this looks like. Yet, in my own life, I really wonder what this looks like. From my perspective it seems I … Continue reading Be a Good Loser – Matthew 10:39
The Severity of Sin – Matthew 5:27-30
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better … Continue reading The Severity of Sin – Matthew 5:27-30
Calling Everyone – Acts 2:21
And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Is this truly possible? Everyone? Don’t we need to quantify and qualify and make some exceptions? Isn’t this too simple? Too easy? Shouldn’t we expound and suppose and require? How can Peter quote such a Scripture … Continue reading Calling Everyone – Acts 2:21
God’s Creative Genius – Genesis 1:26-28
Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in … Continue reading God’s Creative Genius – Genesis 1:26-28
God’s Irony – Matthew 27:25
And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” It is simply God’s irony that those who sought to have him murdered and who gladly took full responsibility for His crucifixion articulate in their anger the very truth that saves us today. By the grace of God, Jesus’ blood is … Continue reading God’s Irony – Matthew 27:25
The Fear of Knowing the Truth – Mark 9:30-32
They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he did not want anyone to know, for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will … Continue reading The Fear of Knowing the Truth – Mark 9:30-32
Chin Up – Luke 21:34
"But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. It is deeply perplexing and troubling for me that Lord Jesus puts carousing and drunkenness in the same sentence as 'the cares of this life'. Carousing and drunkenness are … Continue reading Chin Up – Luke 21:34
The One Percent – Luke 15:7
Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. Do we really understand the implications of this statement of Jesus or do we simply read it, qualify it and move on? Yes, another gut wrenching question to consider. … Continue reading The One Percent – Luke 15:7
Stuff of Earth – Luke 12:15
And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” Our life is defined by Whose we are not by what we ‘own’, as if we really ‘own’ anything. For those of us who have much, there is an ever … Continue reading Stuff of Earth – Luke 12:15
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