“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and don’t do what I tell you?” (Luke 6:46) It was customary in Jesus’ day to address a man of stature as ‘lord’. The bible versions often differentiate respected men from Jesus by the use of ‘lord’ vs. ‘LORD’ (or, Lord). However, in this verse Jesus is quoted …
AUDIO VERSION for your convenience CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS The virgin birth of the child known as Jesus is, without a doubt, one of the monumental pivot points in all of human history. Prophesies of the Messiah’s birth are recorded long before His arrival. Despite His humble beginnings, born in a manger, surrounded by shepherds, …
Luke’s gospel account is unique from the other 3 gospels in that it expresses the emotional depth surrounding Christ’s incarnation. So many people were directly affected by His birth: Zechariah, Elizabeth, Mary, Joseph, Anna the prophetess, and Simeon the Godly priest who served at Jesus’ dedication, and they all show up in Luke’s account. One …
Our hearts are not to be trusted. I am well aware that many, many people—Christians included—are prone to rely on their own hearts to guide them through the situations, trials, and perils of daily living. But, God’s word warns us that this should not be so.
It wasn’t that God thought the Jews better than the gentiles (non-Jews); in fact, God’s intent from the very beginning was for the Jews to carry His message to the entire world. As the Jews failed to follow through on their calling, Jesus–being Jewish–served to fulfill God’s intent. Like the Jews, we–living in the present day–were also far off. We were separated from God by our sinful natures. We could not approach God on our own. Thanks be to God that we live in an age when Salvation (Yeshua) has come to all.
Anyone who lives righteously and with integrity, who thinks of others before themselves, and seeks to honor God in all of their day to day dealings – that person will not be upended, they will not be defeated spiritually and they will live in God’s house for eternity.
As we become more enlightened to God’s Word and begin to see Who God is, and we ourselves experience the faithfulness of God of which the Bible speaks, our hearts desire to be faithful to Him grows. For most it is a gradual process.
Despite Israel’s incessant rebellion, chasing after foreign gods, disregarding of God’s laws, disgracing His name among the people of the earth, and forgetting all of His promises, and disregarding all of His warnings, God’s grace remains.
The same holds true for us!
In the 8th chapter of the much-loved book of Esther, the Jews—who had been marked for annihilation—have received an edict allowing them to defend themselves against any aggression at any cost.
The English Standard Version of the Bible reads like this: “there was radiant happiness and joyous honor”.
It’s hard to imagine what this phrase means to us today, especially since….READ MORE
When does God’s plan becoming less-than in our eyes? When do we determine that His plan for our lives just I isn’t good enough? What makes us think that we have a better idea?
What is it about us that we can’t remember to serve God with our entire being? After all, our very existence and future depends on it! We’re like the guy who’s been diagnosed with emphysema and is told—in no uncertain terms—never to smoke again, and as soon as he steps out of the doctors office he lights up!
Why can’t we remember God’s commandments for living God-honoring lives?
There was no similarity between John the Baptist and the religious leaders of the day. So, why would God choose such a disheveled man to spread His message of hope?
Complacency is a deadly enemy of spiritual growth and the Christian’s responsibility towards Christ.
911. COVID-19. Could it be that we are misreading these events? What is the Christians initial response supposed to be?
We are indebted to the wrong thing! Christ is the only one we are to be indebted to. It is His immeasurable sacrifice which has brought about our freedom from sin and death.