How good is good enough? How perfectly do you have to obey God’s Commandments to spend eternity in heaven with Him? That was the question presented to Jesus in Matthew 19: “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” Matthew 19:16 Jesus replied: “Keep the commandments . . . You must not murder….
Power, prestige, popularity . . . three “P’s” that cause all kinds of problems for followers of Jesus. Not that they’re bad in and of themselves. The issue is that it is so easy for them to become irresistible temptations for selfishness. Matthew 18 begins with the disciples asking Jesus… “Who is greatest in the…
Do you ever feel like life is a crazy roller-coaster ride? One minute you are climbing high . . . life is going well and you are able to get up each day with hope and enthusiasm. And the next . . . you’re taking a giant nose-dive riddled with sadness, fear, and anxiety. I’ve…
If Jesus came to you and asked… “Who do you say I am?“ Matthew 16:15 What would you say? Peter replied… “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Matthew 16:16 A messiah is defined as a savior or liberator . . . someone who sets people free. And that’s exactly what Jesus did…
I’ll admit, it’s easier to simply focus on Jesus love and acceptance . . . to repeat His Gospel promises and ignore His the truth of His life-changing commands. It’s more comfortable to say there is no sin, no devil, no hell, and no need for repentance but that wouldn’t be the truth. Jesus challenged…
Can you imagine what it must have been like to be the disciples sailing across the Sea of Galilee in the middle of the night . . . when Jesus approaches walking on the water. I can’t imagine all the emotions the disciples were feeling. They had received word that John the Baptist had been…
Remember Matthew 6:33: Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. If you haven’t memorized it already . . . it’s a really great verse to hold in your heart. Why? Because SEEKing is important. Jesus said: I speak to them in parables, because seeing…
What do you do when you read a section of Scripture that makes you uncomfortable? I knew some parts would be uncomfortable and harder to write about when I committed to reading and writing every chapter of the New Testament this year but I was hoping it would take a little longer. I’m a first-born,…
I ask God faithfully to make me “childlike.” Unfortunately, too often I give in to childish rather than childlike. Why do I ask to be childlike? Because Jesus said: “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to…
Do you ever worry about the possibility of persecution that may be ahead for those who follow Christ? For years, it seemed like Christians living in the United States were given a pass from the persecution Jesus’ followers were facing in other parts of the world. In the past year, around the world: – Over…
In this season of Covid and all of the physical and mental suffering that has gone with it . . . can you imagine finding out there is a healer in town? That just a simple word or a touch could cure you or your loved one of any ailment? Wouldn’t you do just about…
Wow, Matthew 7 contains words of Jesus that everyone seems to know . . . no matter what they believe. Words that many love to apply to others but don’t want to apply to themselves. Like… “Do not judge others and you will not be judged.” Matthew 7:1 And… “Do to others whatever you would…
