“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” 1 Peter 2:24-25 (ESV) What motivates you to serve […]
“The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” Ecclesiastes 12:13 (ESV) Another essential to doing life God’s way is obedience. Revering God is demonstrated through obeying God. Solomon recognized the priority of doing life God’s way. After experiencing life in […]
“The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.“ Ecclesiastes 12:13 (ESV) Imagine enjoying a cup of coffee with one of the wisest men to ever live, Solomon. That’s right! You are sitting across from Solomon and you ask him to […]
“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.” James 3:17 (ESV) Doing life God’s way involves obtaining and employing heavenly wisdom. What does that kind of wisdom look like? James has already explained the components of earthly wisdom in the […]
“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31 (ESV) God never intended for you to live the Christian life in your own strength. Joining God in His activity requires […]
“But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.“ Jeremiah 18:4 (ESV) Whenever you purchase an item that has an “as is” tag on it, you accept the fact that it may be flawed. In […]
“Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.“ Ephesians 4:28 (ESV) You may have disengaged from this verse since you immediately recognized that you are not a thief. You are not stealing. You, […]
“Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, ‘Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?’” John 6:8-9 (ESV) God wants to use you to meet needs. In order to meet needs, you must be sensitive to the needs […]
“Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” John 13:14-15 (ESV) The sinless Son of God was willing to wash the feet of sinful men. Jesus exemplified the servitude […]
“Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the […]
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” Colossians 3:16 (ESV) Is God’s Word at home in your heart? Your intake of God’s Word will determine your level of living on mission […]
“And to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.“ 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 (ESV) Strive earnestly to live a disciplined life. What does that look like? It looks like […]
“And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, ‘If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.’ And she prevailed upon us.” Acts 16:15 (ESV) Have you ever been to someone’s house and you felt right at home? After being there […]
“I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need.” Philippians 2:25 (ESV) Find a need and meet it. Our world is full of hurt and in desperate need of compassion in action. We need each other. What if […]
“And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke […]
“On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised (for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles). Galatians 2:7-8 (ESV) One […]
“And Simon answered, ‘Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.‘” Luke 5:5 (ESV) Do you remember those words you frequently heard as a child? You may have challenged something your parent said and then they responded emphatically with, “Because I said so!” Simon had […]
“Jesus said to them, ‘My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.’” John 4:34 (ESV) God has a mission for you to fulfill. God created you to bloom where He plants you so that you can continue the ministry of Jesus. Your life matters to God. […]
“And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people […]
“And Mary said, ‘Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.’ And the angel departed from her.” Luke 1:38 (ESV) Why did God choose Mary to give birth to the Son of God? In His perfect wisdom, God chose Mary because He knew she would willingly make herself available for […]
“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence.” 2 Peter 1:3 (ESV) God does not expect you to live the Christian life outside of His enablement. In fact, it is impossible to be […]
“‘Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’” Matthew 11:28-30 (ESV) Jesus is always on time. He knows just […]
“Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.“ Proverbs 31:30 (ESV) Our culture places immeasurable value on beauty. Teenage girls and women combat incalculable pressure to compete with the enhanced images of celebrities frequenting magazine covers. The pressure escalates as trends vacillate from month to […]
“Then David said to the Philistine, ‘You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, […]
“And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.’” Luke 5:4 (ESV) Jesus had been teaching the crowd from Simon’s boat. The water’s surface propelled the teachings of Jesus with clarity to the hearers. Simon was in the boat with Jesus […]
“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.‘” John 14:6 (ESV) There’s only one way. I have often heard people comment that we are all heading to the same place and that we are just taking different paths to get […]
“‘And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.’” John 14:3 (ESV) There’s more to explore. God has so much more in store for you than what you have currently in view. There’s so much more […]
“‘And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.’” John 14:3 (ESV) There’s more to explore. God has so much more in store for you than what you have currently in view. There’s so much more […]
“In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?” John 14:2 (ESV) Heaven is a place you can call home. When Jesus spoke these words of comfort to His disciples, He affirmed the reality of heaven and the […]
“No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you.” Joshua 1:5 (ESV) God’s presence brings comfort. You will never go through anything that Jesus hasn’t already endured on your […]