James 1:16-18 ESV “Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be … Continue reading Blessed in Our Doing
Not Peace, But a Sword
Matthew 10:34-36 ESV [Jesus Christ said:] “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's … Continue reading Not Peace, But a Sword
In the Strength of His Might
Ephesians 6:10 ESV “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.” I don’t know about you, but I know that I am not naturally a strong person physically or emotionally. I am only strong in the strength of the Lord. I could not do what I do every day, especially … Continue reading In the Strength of His Might
A Great Persecution Against the Church
Acts 8:1 ESV “And Saul approved of his execution.” Saul (later called the Apostle Paul) approved of the execution of Stephen, who was a man of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom – a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit. For, some people hated Stephen, and so they plotted … Continue reading A Great Persecution Against the Church
The Lord Searches our Hearts
Jeremiah 17:5-6 ESV “Thus says the Lord: ‘Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord. He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited … Continue reading The Lord Searches our Hearts
Long for the Pure Word of God
As Obedient Children 1 Peter 2:1-3 ESV “So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation — if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.” In 1 Peter 1 … Continue reading Long for the Pure Word of God
Don’t Fear What They Fear
Isaiah 8:11-12 ESV “For the Lord spoke thus to me with his strong hand upon me, and warned me not to walk in the way of this people, saying: ‘Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread.’” In the Way of This … Continue reading Don’t Fear What They Fear
We’re Called to Freedom
Galatians 3-4 Summary When the Jews were under the Old Covenant relationship with Almighty God, they were required to obey a litany of liturgical, ceremonial and purification statutes. But when Jesus Christ died on the cross and he became our sacrificial Lamb to take away the sins of the world, that old order was done … Continue reading We’re Called to Freedom
Here I Am! Send Me!
Isaiah 6:1-5 ESV “In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with … Continue reading Here I Am! Send Me!
To Show God’s Truthfulness
Romans 15:1-3 ESV “We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, ‘The reproaches of those who reproached you … Continue reading To Show God’s Truthfulness
Run With It 