Jesus – The Most Rewarding Name I Know – Part 4
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)Philippians 2:10-11 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to...
Jesus – The Most Meaningful Name I Know – Part 3
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)Philippians 2:10-11 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to...
Jesus – The Most Caring Name I Know – Part 2
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)Philippians 2:10-11 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to...
Jesus – The Sweetest Name I Know – Part 1
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)Philippians 2:10-11 - that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to...
The Mountains
The MountainsAmos 4:13 For behold, He who forms mountains, And creates the wind, Who declares to man what his thought is, And makes the morning darkness, Who treads the high places of the earth— The Lord God of hosts is His name. (NKJV) Last week, my wife and I were...
The Evidence of True Salvation: Self & Others – Part 6
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)Matthew 7:21-23 - "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not...
I Am Persuaded
2 Timothy 1.12 …for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day. (NKJV) As Christians we can live in the freedom of knowing that God is quite capable of safekeeping everything we commit to Him. We...
At the Cross
Hebrews 12:2 ...looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (NKJV)Father of Salvation,You have drawn me to the cross...
Love
The Love of Jesus Christ My Lord Jesus, Teach me to love You and to embrace Youeven though my arms once embraced lust and sin. You loved me an eternity before I loved You,even while I was Your enemy and a filthy lowly sinner. You loved me as Your own even when I was...
The Evidence of True Salvation: Religious Acts & Separation – Part 5
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)Matthew 7:21-23 - "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not...
The Evidence of True Salvation: Conviction & Repentance – Part 4
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)Matthew 7:21-23 - "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not...
Fat & Kicking
Deuteronomy 32:15 “But Jeshurun grew fat and kicked; You grew fat, you grew thick, You are obese! Then he forsook God who made him, And scornfully esteemed the Rock of his salvation. (NKJV)Who is Jeshurun? In Hebrew it was a poetic title that meant "upright one" or...
Opened
John 20:1 Now the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.The tomb is open. Jesus has risen from the dead. The stone is rolled away and the tomb is empty. Jesus...
The Evidence of True Salvation: Selflessness & Knowledge – Part 3
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)Matthew 7:21-23 - "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not...
God Is Enough for Every Need
Great God of Grace, As I wake up and face the world today, my weakness threatens to keep me fearful and I look to You for strength. I try to face the world by myself, I know that I am destined to stumble But through Christ who strengthens me I am steadfast like the...
The Negative Reality
Psalm 39:4 - “Lord, make me to know my end, And what is the measure of my days, That I may know how frail I am. (NKJV)Death, few, very.From a human perspective, those are the answers to the Psalmists requests in our Bible verse for today. Death is our end. Few are the...
Give Me, Fix Me, Restore Me, Bless Me
James 4:3 - You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. (NKJV)When you teach the Bible and interact with a large number of responses and questions, you see patterns and tendencies that are generally true for the...
The Evidence of True Salvation: Obedience & Morality – Part 2
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)Matthew 7:21-23 - "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not...
The Evidence of True Salvation: Will Jesus Know You? – Part 1
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)Matthew 7:21-23 - "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not...
Knowing the Will of God -Questions – Part 8
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)1 John 2:17 - And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. (NKJV)I wanted to wrap up the series on "Knowing the Will of God" by giving you a full summary of...
Knowing the Will of God – Glory Filter – Part 7
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)1 John 2:17 - And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. (NKJV)Today's question reaches far beyond just our effort to determine God's Will. It should be a...
Knowing the Will of God – Good or Better – Part 6
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)1 John 2:17 - And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. (NKJV)Determining God's Will can be tough because it's not always a simple matter of right and...
When God Answers
Psalm 140:6 I said to the Lord: “You are my God; Hear the voice of my supplications, O Lord. (NKJV) I was sitting in on a Bible study the other day when someone said, "God always answers our prayers. He either says 'yes', 'no' or 'wait'." I have heard that countless...
The Walk of Love
2John 1:6 This is love: that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it. (NKJV)The Christian life is not nearly as complicated as we have made it. It can be difficult, it can be...
Humble, Exalt and Cast
1 Peter 5:6-7 - Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. (NKJV)Peter is specifically admonishing the younger folks to be humble and submissive to God. He tells...
Go and Learn What Jesus Desires
Matthew 9:13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” (NKJV)Jesus commanded the prideful, religious hypocrites to "go and learn" what this means: "I desire mercy not...
Nobody, Everybody, Somebody, Anybody
Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. (NKJV)Melvin Graham, Billy's younger brother, recently said on a national telecast:I just...
The Wrong Question
Thessalonians 1:12 ...that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. (NKJV)There's an old proverb that says "If you ask the wrong question, you will get the wrong answer". We...
Knowing the Will of God – Drawn or Turned – Part 5
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)1 John 2:17 - And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. (NKJV)Trying to discern the Will of God is a daily, if not moment by moment requirement of the...
Knowing the Will of God – Epitaph Worthy – Part 4
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)1 John 2:17 - And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. (NKJV)I doubt there has ever been a true Christian that has not struggled frequently with...
Knowing the Will of God – Respond Like Christ – Part 3
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)1 John 2:17 - And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. (NKJV)I doubt there has ever been a true Christian that has not struggled frequently with...
Knowing the Will of God – Necessity – Part 2
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)1 John 2:17 - And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. (NKJV)"How can you know what God's will is? Is it even possible?" We began our look at that very...
Knowing the Will of God – Two Parts – Part 1
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)1 John 2:17 - And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. (NKJV)One of the most common questions from the average Christian is "how do I know what God's...
You Are Not Less Than the Least
Ephesians 3:8 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ (NKJV)It's common for Christians to view Biblical characters as "super Godly"... that's why God put them...
The Reflection of You
Proverbs 27.19 As in water face reflects face, So a man’s heart reveals the man. (NKJV)Looking into still water is like looking into a mirror. What you see reflected back is exactly what is there. You can’t fool the mirror, you can’t change the image, you can’t filter...
Evangelical Hypocrites
Matthew 23:27-28 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you...
A Childs Response
Matthew 18:3 "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven." (NKJV)Picture in your mind with me three scenarios with small children:An adult is holding a dog saying, "Come here. Pet...
The Blessing of Tough Times – 25 Reasons – Part 10
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)James 1:2-4 - My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and...
The Blessing of Tough Times – Temporal and Eternal – Part 9
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)James 1:2-4 - My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and...
Obey Your Thirst
Psalm 63:1 O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water. Obey your thirst... a familiar slogan for a popular series of soft drink commercials. The message is clear:...
Ho, Hum… I Am a Christian
Psalm 119:18 Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law. (NKJV)Part of the Christian life is the illumination of God's truth in our hearts. This is much more than just a head knowledge or intellectual understanding of the Bible. You may understand, and...
It Is Who, Not What
Proverbs 6:16-20 These six things the LORD hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one...
The Blessing of Tough Times – Restoration, Preservation & Increase – Part 8
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)James 1:2-4 - My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and...
The Blessing of Tough Times – Sympathy, Thanks & Proof – Part 7
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)James 1:2-4 - My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and...
Now You Shall See
Numbers 11:23 And the Lord said to Moses, "Has the Lord's arm been shortened? Now you shall see whether what I say will happen to you or not." (NKJV)Another round of bitter complaining from the Israelites had begun. The Lord told Moses that the He would provide meat...
Criticism – Question and Answer
Ephesians 4:29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. (NASB) (Note: Occasionally I receive a question, or a series of related...
The Blessing of Tough Times – Readers Ask – Part 6
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)James 1:2-4 - My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and...
The Blessing of Tough Times – Molding, Pulling, Enduring – Part 5
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)James 1:2-4 - My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and...
Twin Towers
James 1:25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. (NKJV)One can hardly imagine an American (or most anyone) who does not know about the Twin...
The Blessing of Tough Times – Opportunity, Songs & Heaven – Part 4
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)James 1:2-4 - My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and...