The Answer
Romans 12:9-12 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in...
The Blessing of Humility
Luke 18:13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ (NKJV) Humility is repeatedly put forth in Scripture as a basic characteristic of the Christian. What is...
The New Boss
Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. (NKJV) Work, whether in the business world, or at home, is a two-sided coin: futile or fulfilling; painful or purposeful;...
The Joy of Time with God
Psalm 63:5 My soul will feast and be satisfied, and I will sing glad songs of praise to you. (GNB)Today I want to encourage you! Too many times, a "guilt trip" is laid on us and we make some commitments to change that quickly fail. Don't think of today's devotional as...
The Treasure Measure
Matt 6. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.Treasure. It resurrects memories of boyhood adventures and maps with an “X marks the spot”. It creates images of swashbuckling pirates, Aladdin and the Arabian Knights or sunken ships buried for...
Cry Out to God
Psalm 107.19,21 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, And He saved them out of their distresses... Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men!Psalms 107 takes us through a series of...
God, You Already Know
Psalms 69.5 O God, You know my foolishness; And my sins are not hidden from You.Whenever someone finds out our sin, or something we said that we shouldn’t have, we are rightfully embarrassed and ashamed. There are times even now when I think of something I did years...
Lessons From Sam
Matthew 21:16 ...And Jesus said to them, “Yes. Have you never read, ‘Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise’? ” (NKJV) There is a little boy at our church who continues to teach me spiritual lessons although he couldn't even tell you...
Morning Dedication
Psalm 92:1-2 It is good to give thanks to the Lord, And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, And Your faithfulness every night, (NKJV) I Dedicate My MorningAlmighty God,As I enter into the start of a new day, I...
Proverbs 30 – Bugs & Other Critters – Part 5
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)Proverbs 30:24 There are four things which are little on the earth, But they are exceedingly wise: (NKJV)Agur either had a lot of time on his hands, or he was a master at seeing the hand of the Creator in...
Proverbs 30 – Butter and Blood – Part 4
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)Proverbs 30:32-33 If you have been foolish in exalting yourself, Or if you have devised evil, put your hand on your mouth. For as the churning of milk produces butter, And wringing the nose produces blood, So...
Proverbs 30 – Three or Four Things – Part 3
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)Proverbs 30:18 There are three things which are too wonderful for me, Yes, four which I do not understand: (NKJV) Only three? Four? Agur must have been some kind of guy. In the next 60 seconds I can think of a...
Proverbs 30 – There Is a Generation – Part 2
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)Proverbs 30:12 There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes, Yet is not washed from its filthiness. (NKJV) Agur is the writer of Proverbs 30. Who is he? I have no clue. He was probably a student of King...
Proverbs 30 – The Original Stupid Is – Part 1
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)Proverbs 30:2 Surely I am more stupid than any man, And do not have the understanding of a man. (NKJV) There are times when I feel like having that verse tattooed across my forehead backwards, so I can read it...
Money: the Good, Bad & the Ugly – Part 9
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)Luke 12:34 - For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 1 Timothy 6:6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. (NKJV) God created the heart of man to be filled with the Creator not the...
Money: the Good, Bad & the Ugly – Part 8
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...) Luke 12:34 - For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 1 Timothy 6:6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. (NKJV) "You only live life once". You hear that all the time and the general...
Money: the Good, Bad & the Ugly – Part 7
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...) Luke 12:34 - For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 1 Timothy 6:6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. (NKJV) The desire to have more wealth, more comfort and more "security" rages...
Money: the Good, Bad & the Ugly – Part 6
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...) Luke 12:34 - For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 1 Timothy 6:6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. (NKJV) It's very sobering to be honest about all the time we DON'T have for...
Money: the Good, Bad & the Ugly – Part 5
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...) Luke 12:34 - For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 1 Timothy 6:6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. (NKJV) The war is on for the heart of man. At one time it was the sole domain...
Money: the Good, Bad & the Ugly – Part 4
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)Luke 12:34 - For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 1 Timothy 6:6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. (NKJV) There is built deep inside of man a need for fulfillment and...
Money: the Good, Bad & the Ugly – Part 3
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)Luke 12:34 - For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 1 Timothy 6:6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. (NKJV) In God's original, perfect creation, the Lord had sole access to the...
Money: the Good, Bad & the Ugly – Part 2
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...) Luke 12:34 - For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 1 Timothy 6:6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. (NKJV) Money, and the "things" God has provided for us were always meant to...
Money: the Good, Bad & the Ugly – Part 1
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...) Luke 12:34 - For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 1 Timothy 6:6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. (NKJV) Money. Prosperity. Wealth. Career. Lifestyle. Comfort. Luxury....
You Must Have Forgotten – Part 10
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)2 Peter 1:9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. (NKJV)We will conclude our series on the "things" which make you short...
You Must Have Forgotten – Part 9
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)2 Peter 1:9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. (NKJV)The shortsighted person in this verse has neglected, never learned...
You Must Have Forgotten – Part 8
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)2 Peter 1:9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. (NKJV)The Apostle Peter goes on to say in the following verses that if we...
You Must Have Forgotten – Part 7
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)2 Peter 1:9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. (NKJV)We have learned that these "things" are a list of Christian...
You Must Have Forgotten – Part 6
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)2 Peter 1:9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. (NKJV)The Apostle Peter isn't one to sugar coat things. He just flat out...
You Must Have Forgotten – Part 5
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)2 Peter 1:9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. (NKJV)We've been looking at "things" that characterize the Christian....
You Must Have Forgotten – Part 4
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)2 Peter 1:9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. (NKJV)These "things" are listed beginning in verse five and last time we...
You Must Have Forgotten – Part 3
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...) 2 Peter 1:9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. (NKJV)If you were to lack certain things that caused you to be blind,...
The God Who Keeps His Promises
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)God is faithful to fulfill His promises to usGod of...
You Must Have Forgotten – Part 2
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)2 Peter 1:9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. (NKJV)If we lack these "things" we're spiritually blind, forgetting that...
You Must Have Forgotten – Part 1
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)2 Peter 1:9-11 - For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and...
Insignificant But Important To God – Part 2
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)Psalm 8:4 - What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? (NKJV)Apart from God, man is a very insignficant part of this universe both physically and in composition. However, it...
Insignificant But Important To God – Part 1
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)Psalm 8:4 - What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? (NKJV)With regards to influence and physical stature, man is an insignificant speck when compared to all of creation....
Thankful for Our God
Psalms 86.15 But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, Longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth. (NKJV)Have you ever contemplated how blessed we are that God is who He is?All other god’s of this world are harsh taskmasters, distant and cold,...
Does Your Living Match Your Knowledge
1John 2:3 "Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments." NKJV)I heard a sermon from a dear missionary who has faithfully served for over 50 years. He made a comment that struck me both as disturbing, and sadly truthful. He said:"In the church...
Goads, Nails & Mysteries
This lesson by Brent Riggs is based on the Book of Ephesians as presented in Chapter 13 of “Created for His Glory” by Jim Berg. It was delivered by Brent as the final speaker at a three day conference featuring Jim Berg teaching the material in this book. The answers...
Growing Spiritually
Heb 10: 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. (NKJV)Where are you in your Christian walk?You don't really know much about God. You know about God...
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...
Does Heaven Interest You?
1Corinthians 2:9 However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him". (NKJV)Do you think about Heaven every day as if it really, truly exists?We go about trying to "get the most" out of our...
The King Has Left the Building
Judges 21:25 In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes. (NKJV)It sounds as if the Israelites had a really good arrangement. There was no King over them to tell them what to do and they were just going around doing the right...
The Eyes of the Lord
Proverbs 15.3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place, Keeping watch on the evil and the good. (NKJV)The Lord is looking at you this very moment. What is your immediate reaction to this? Do you see eyes of severity, condemnation or chastisement? Or do you envision...
Good Days & Loving Life
1 Peter 3:10-12 For “He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His...
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...
Handling Life – Annie’s Story – Part 5
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)2 Peter 1:3 ...as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue... (NKJV all verses following, emphasis mine)...
Handling Life – David – Part 4
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)2 Peter 1:3 ...as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue... (NKJV all verses following, emphasis mine)...
Handling Life – Paul – Part 3
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)2 Peter 1:3 ...as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue... (NKJV) "Yeah, but you don't know what I'm...
Handling Life – Elijah – Part 2
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)2 Peter 1:3 ...as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue... (NKJV) Life is hard sometimes. No doubt as...