The Envy Trap
But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom […]
His Promised Return
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. II Peter 3:10 The disciples asked Jesus to describe the sign of His coming again. In the gospel […]
Preparing the Way
A voice of one calling: “In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the LORD will be […]
The Son of Man Returns
At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. Matthew 24:30 Jesus ends the Olivet Discourse with the disciples proclaiming […]
Love Keeps No Record of Wrongs
Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. I Thessalonians 5:15 One of Paul’s descriptions of love is not keeping a record of wrongs. (I Corinthians 13:6) I would need a volume of books to record all the times I […]
Life Worthy of the Calling
As a prisoner of the Lord, then I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:1-3 It is believed […]
Comparison
This week we’ll read the long list of individuals, families and groups that contributed to the work of rebuilding the wall and the gates around Jerusalem. Nehemiah describes exactly where everyone worked, and what they accomplished. Imagine if your local church had a list like that. Would it be helpful to see your unique contributions […]
Setting a Godly Example
But the earlier governors – those preceding me – placed a heavy burden on the people and took forty shekels of silver from them in addition to food and wine. Their assistants also lorded it over the people. But out of reverence for God, I did not act like that. Instead, I devoted myself to […]
Boomerang Judgment
Do not judge or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Matthew 7:1-2 Judging others has a boomerang effect on our lives. When we judge others, the judgment comes back on us. […]
Accomplishing God’s Purpose through His Strength
Now then, just as the LORD promised, he has kept me alive forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel moved about in the desert. So here I am today, eighty-five years old! Joshua 14:10 When we depend on God, He gives us strength for each season of our lives. […]