You can feel the electric anticipation in the overflowing room. Jesus is speaking God’s Word in ways that you’ve never heard it spoken before. You’re fully focused on the teacher when bits of debris begin falling on you and those around you. In this account in Mark 2, four men carried their paralyzed friend to…
Mark was probably the first Gospel written. It was penned by John Mark, who was not one of the 12 Disciples but was a follower of Jesus and a companion of Paul and Barnabas on their mission journeys to “go and make disciples.” The 1st Chapter skips over everything prior to the start of Jesus’…
He is risen! It’s a statement of faith we proclaim on Easter but can you imagine the difference it could make in our lives if it is the first things we declared every morning and our last thought every night. You and I trust the Son of God, the Alpha and Omega . . ….
Have you ever felt abandoned by God? Have you experienced times when you’ve taken your needs to God and it feels like He’s not listening? You’re still sick. Your heart is still broken. You still don’t have a job and your need is still unmet. Yesterday, we looked at Jesus prayer… “My Father! If it…
The hardest words and the ones for which I am most thankful are found in Matthew 26… My Father, if it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet, I want your will to be done, not mine.” Matthew 26:39 Your will be done, not mine! They are so hard…
Yesterday we looked at what Jesus said about being prepared for His return. Today, in Matthew 25, Jesus went on to tell His followers about the importance of having faith and the importance of showing others their faith by demonstrating His love. The first parable today, tells the story of 10 bridesmaids who were waiting…
So much has been written about the end times . . . even people who deny Jesus talk about the world coming to an end. I love that Jesus didn’t want His followers to be uninformed; so this week leading up to His suffering, death, and resurrection, He paused to talk about near future and…
Matthew 23 is another chapter that makes me squirm . . . and I’d like to tell you why. Hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs—beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people’s bones and all sorts of impurity. Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with…
How important is it that you and I obey the commandments? Is there a “most important commandment?” You must not have any other god but me.You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind.You must not misuse the name of the Lord your God.Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.Honor your father…
Today, we’re going to focus on one verse and one question… Jesus told them, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and don’t doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. You…
Recently, my morning devotion included the following quote: Human love typically expects something in return; divine love, however, is unselfishly given regardless of the response of the recipient. Whether we choose to love God or not, His love for us remains. ~ Henry Blackaby, Being Still with God Jesus showed people the generosity of God’s…
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…
