Blessed are the Peacemakers
I have been thinking all day about a scripture: If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. (Romans 12:18) And here is how I broke it down. IF it is possible. IF there is a reason that it is your responsibility and it depends on you for […]
Healing the Sick
He sent forth his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave. Psalm 107:20 In Matthew 8 and 9, we read that Jesus healed a man with leprosy, cured a centurion’s servant, healed Peter’s mother-in-law, cast out demons, and healed a paralytic. As we read through these accounts, Jesus demonstrates and proclaims […]
The Holiness of God
“Who among the gods is like you, O LORD? Who is like you – majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?” Exodus 15:11 Peter 1:15-16 challenges us to be holy as God is holy. The text continues by describing what it means to be holy and set apart: to live as strangers on […]
Jehovah, the Righteous Judge
…let the LORD judge the peoples. Judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, according to my integrity, O Most High. Psalm 7:8 The word Jehovah is formed from two tenses of the Hebrew verb “havah,” to be, and meaning “One who is what He is,” reflecting the words of God to Moses, I […]
Strategic Witnesses
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8 Jesus sent His Holy Spirit at Pentecost to empower believers to be witnesses for Christ. Today, we also have […]
Profession and Practice
Now if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and brag about your relationship to God; if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who […]
Repentance
…let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. Nehemiah 1:6 A key component of Nehemiah’s prayer was repentance. He identified with the sins of the people and repented, both for his own sins […]
The Lord’s Battle
Saul replied, “You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a boy, and he has been a fighting man from his youth.” But David said to Saul, “…The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me […]
Connection to Others
My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. John 15:12-13 We must be connected to Jesus, the Vine, if our lives are to be spiritually fruitful. He is our source of strength, sustenance, authority, […]
Seek His Face
You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, Lord, do I seek.” – Psalm 27:8 A few days ago, God used the lyrics of a song in my weekly church service to convict my heart: In the morning when I rise to meet you In the morning when I lift […]