Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he … Continue reading Shortsighted – Matthew 16:24-27
Man of Sorrows – Matthew 14:13
Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. Our dear Lord Jesus was a man of many sorrows. He bore much emotional pain and suffered great loss. In His sufferings He learned what it meant to be obedient in the flesh (as a man) as … Continue reading Man of Sorrows – Matthew 14:13
Foolish Rebels – Isaiah 66:24
“As they leave, they will see the dead bodies of the men who have rebelled against Me; for their worm will never die, their fire will never go out, and they will be a horror to all mankind.” What a contrast this verse is to the beginning verses of this chapter. Isaiah 66:2 All these … Continue reading Foolish Rebels – Isaiah 66:24
Speak Up – Matthew 10:32-33
“Therefore, everyone who will acknowledge Me before men, I will also acknowledge him before My Father in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father in heaven. Jesus never sugar coated anything. He was painfully and directly honest in all of the things that mattered most. He professes … Continue reading Speak Up – Matthew 10:32-33
The Willingness Of God – Matthew 8:3
Reaching out His hand He touched him, saying, “I am willing; be made clean.” Immediately his disease was healed. Can we truly comprehend the amazing depth and humility of Jesus statement? He is willing. What else matters? The Incarnate God of the Universe is willing to touch us in the most leprous part of our … Continue reading The Willingness Of God – Matthew 8:3
It Is Written – Matthew 4:10
Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’” In the face of pure evil (satan himself), Jesus (God in the flesh), addresses every single temptation, each of which was designed to personally derail Jesus and His mission, with … Continue reading It Is Written – Matthew 4:10
Rest In Peace – Isaiah 57:1-2
The righteous man perishes, and no man takes it to heart; And devout men are taken away, while no one understands. For the righteous man is taken away from evil, He enters into peace; They rest in their beds, Each one who walked in his upright way. Death is rarely seen through this lens. We … Continue reading Rest In Peace – Isaiah 57:1-2
Blatant Disobedience – Deuteronomy 28:15
“But if you do not obey the Lord your God by carefully following all His commands and statutes I am giving you today, all these curses will come and overtake you..." (ESV) For those whom God has delivered and yet who willfully choose to disobey Him, there are drastic consequences. Living outside of the will … Continue reading Blatant Disobedience – Deuteronomy 28:15
Eternal Healing – Isaiah 53:5-6
But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. … Continue reading Eternal Healing – Isaiah 53:5-6
Wicked Insecurity – Isaiah 47:10
You were secure in your wickedness; you said, ‘No one sees me.’ Your wisdom and knowledge led you astray. You said to yourself, ‘I exist, and there is no one else.’ But disaster will happen to you; you will not know how to avert it. And it will fall on you, but you will be … Continue reading Wicked Insecurity – Isaiah 47:10
For His Own Sake – Psalms 103:10
He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us according to our iniquities. We realize that He has not dealt with us according to our iniquities for if He had, we would simply be dead. His perfect justice could allow nothing less. Fortunately, He is patient with us and gracious to … Continue reading For His Own Sake – Psalms 103:10
Tears – Revelation 7:17
“...for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” (NKJV) It is hard to imagine the supernatural tenderness with which Father God will wipe away our tears. Even here and now in … Continue reading Tears – Revelation 7:17
Reliably True and Holy – Psalms 93:5
Your testimonies are very sure; Holiness adorns Your house, O LORD, forever. (NKJV) Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. (ESV) Just as God’s testimonies are always reliable, His word always proves true. He has built this universe and developed this world on … Continue reading Reliably True and Holy – Psalms 93:5
Older – Psalms 92:12-15
The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the LORD; they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, to declare that the LORD is upright; he is … Continue reading Older – Psalms 92:12-15
The Living Dead – Christian Zombies – Revelation 3:1-3
“Write to the angel of the church in Sardis: “The One who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars says: I know your works; you have a reputation for being alive, but you are dead. Be alert and strengthen what remains, which is about to die, for I have not found your … Continue reading The Living Dead – Christian Zombies – Revelation 3:1-3
The Discipline Of Love – Revelation 3:19
As many as I love, I rebuke and discipline. So be committed and repent. Love disciplines. Love is not soft and weak. It does not require little of the loved it graciously requires much. Love sees evil and rebukes it. It is not afraid. God is love and as such He disciplines those He loves. … Continue reading The Discipline Of Love – Revelation 3:19
The Morning Star – Revelation 2:28
I will also give him the morning star. Colossians 3:4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 2 Corinthians 3:18 We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from … Continue reading The Morning Star – Revelation 2:28
Refusing – Revelation 2:21
I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. Danger and death lie in a refusal to repent and change. It is when we rebelliously refuse to turn away the sinful nature and the satisfaction of it and turn toward Father God and His re-creation of our fallen nature … Continue reading Refusing – Revelation 2:21
First Love – Revelation 2:4
But I have this against you: You have abandoned the love you had at first. At this stage of mid life I can definitely relate with this sin. It insidiously creeps up on one as the cares, distresses, worries and pleasures of this life crowd into one's thinking and doing. I remember the days of … Continue reading First Love – Revelation 2:4
Greater Fear – Psalms 86:11
Teach me Your way, Yahweh, and I will live by Your truth. Give me an undivided mind to fear Your name. The fear of most everything in life comes so natural to me. It is my biggest failing. I always figured it would decrease and my courage would increase as I aged. My assumption was … Continue reading Greater Fear – Psalms 86:11
