Instead, I discipline my body and bring it under strict control, so that after preaching to others, I myself will not be disqualified. The discipline of our body covers so many areas and is of increasing importance as we mature and age. What we think, see, hear and say all fall within this command to … Continue reading Body Control – 1 Corinthians 9:27
God’s Justice – Job 21:19
“You say, ‘God stores away a man’s iniquity for his sons.’ Let God repay him so that he may know it. Yet another example of the wrongness of Job’s friends. God makes it clearly known that he does not punish the sons for the sins of their dad. He does not work that way. This … Continue reading God’s Justice – Job 21:19
Suffering Friends – Job 20
Job 20:29 “This is the wicked man’s portion from God, Even the heritage decreed to him by God.” Based on this chapter and the ignorant, disparaging words of Job's 'friends', what else can he conclude except that these so called friends feel he, Job, is an evil man. The disaster he has endured proves it … Continue reading Suffering Friends – Job 20
Words Are Fruit – Luke 6:45
A good man produces good out of the good storeroom of his heart. An evil man produces evil out of the evil storeroom, for his mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart. Not only are our actions spiritual fruit but also our words are spiritual fruit. We produce either good or bad fruit based … Continue reading Words Are Fruit – Luke 6:45
Others’ Acceptance – 6:26
Luke 6:26 Woe to you when all people speak well of you, for this is the way their ancestors used to treat the false prophets. As odd as this sounds, there are at least some others who we should expect to be speaking poorly of us if we are walking faithfully with Christ. Those who … Continue reading Others’ Acceptance – 6:26
Abiding Presence – Exodus 3:12
And God said, “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.” The promise of Father God's presence is more than enough for any of us approaching … Continue reading Abiding Presence – Exodus 3:12
Run! – 1 Corinthians 6:18
Run from sexual immorality! “Every sin a person can commit is outside the body.” On the contrary, the person who is sexually immoral sins against his own body. Paul is clearly drawing a distinction between the sin of sexual immorality and every other sin. It would seem logical that he is pointing out that sexual … Continue reading Run! – 1 Corinthians 6:18
Circumstantial Assumptions – Job 18:21
“Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked, And this is the place of him who does not know God.” Job 1:8 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? No one else on earth is like him, a man of perfect integrity, who fears God and turns away from evil.” … Continue reading Circumstantial Assumptions – Job 18:21
Fear God – Exodus 1:21
Because the midwives feared God, He established households for them. The fundamental building block for God’s favor is the fear of Him. Reverence for Father God ushers in His gracious favor resulting in His blessing. At the most basic level, living in sync with God is simply, ‘fear God and keep His commandments’. This is … Continue reading Fear God – Exodus 1:21
On The Lamb – Mark 14:50
And they all left him and fled. Can there be a more gut wrenching verse in all of the New Testament? Those who had just sworn their eternal allegiance to Jesus with fire in their belly have turned their backs and run. They have forsaken Him as quickly and as completely as they had proclaimed … Continue reading On The Lamb – Mark 14:50
Unbelief – Mark 16:11-13
Yet, when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe it. Then after this, He appeared in a different form to two of them walking on their way into the country. And they went and reported it to the rest, who did not believe them either. When … Continue reading Unbelief – Mark 16:11-13
The Spirit is Willing – Mark 14:38
"Stay awake and pray so that you won’t enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Christ's words here are ever true even today. The call is for His disciples to stay awake and focused on Jesus and His concern is that we not fall into the temptation of the enemy … Continue reading The Spirit is Willing – Mark 14:38
Passing Judgement – Mark 14:64
You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?” And they all condemned him as deserving death. A statement cannot be considered blasphemy if it is true. The high priest makes no effort to validate Jesus' statement because he has no desire for the truth. He simply seeks a reason to murder Christ. In effect, … Continue reading Passing Judgement – Mark 14:64
God Meant it for Good – Genesis 45:5
Now do not be grieved or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. Here we see the forgiveness of God expressed in His servant. Joseph demonstrates divine forgiveness and brings to flesh the love of God. He endured unthinkable things all because of his stupid, … Continue reading God Meant it for Good – Genesis 45:5
The Trinity – Romans 15:30
Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me... Here's another reference to the Trinity as described by Paul. He pleads with them through the Lord Jesus by the Holy Spirit that they would strive … Continue reading The Trinity – Romans 15:30
By His Doing – 1 Corinthians 1:30-31
“But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.” By His doing we are being. By His action we are standing. By His work we are resting. … Continue reading By His Doing – 1 Corinthians 1:30-31
Submissive Power – Mark 9:29
And He told them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer [and fasting ].” Prayer is the ultimate submission of our power to God. And isn't our tendency to march around like we are something special when, in many cases, we have no connection with or dedication to either prayer or fasting? Jesus … Continue reading Submissive Power – Mark 9:29
Circle of Blessing – Genesis 39:3-5
Now his master saw that the Lord was with him and how the Lord caused all that he did to prosper in his hand. So Joseph found favor in his sight and became his personal servant; and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he owned he put in his charge. It … Continue reading Circle of Blessing – Genesis 39:3-5
SOPORIFIC – 1 Peter 5.8
Our enemy, the devil, works in many SOPORIFIC (see definition below) ways among God's people. He works to lull us into a satisfied stupor regarding our faith. To put us into a trance that leads to death. He lulls us with earthbound pleasures and treasures, hypnotizing us into irrelevance and irreverence. Then, as we slumber, … Continue reading SOPORIFIC – 1 Peter 5.8
What Do You Want? – Mark 10:36
“What do you want Me to do for you?” He asked them. It is the exact same question that He will ask the blind beggar, Bartimaus. Yet, those who should have known best what to ask for make a selfishly inappropriate request. The blind beggar who has nothing and no standing whatsoever with Jesus asks … Continue reading What Do You Want? – Mark 10:36
Ventanas 