Posts Tagged ‘Engaged’
Let’s Talk About Holiness
Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness, for without it no one will see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14 (NET) It is time to renew a conversation about holiness. The reactions will vary from “what is holiness?” to “isn’t holiness about not wearing makeup and jewelry, or not going to the theater?” It is a subject fraught…
Read MoreJesus and Torn Jeans
My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others? James 2:1 (NLT) A poignant scene in the Jesus Revolution Movie was when Chuck Smith (portrayed by Kelsey Grammar) was at the church’s front door, washing the feet of the…
Read MoreParable of the Lifesaving Station
A parable: Once upon a time there was a dangerous seacoast where shipwrecks often occurred. On that coast was a little lifesaving hut, very crude and with only one boat. But there were a few devoted members who gave themselves day and night, at the risk of their own lives, to rescue those who had…
Read MoreMy Favorite Words
You meant to hurt me, but God turned your evil into good to save the lives of many people, which is being done. Genesis 50:20 (NCV) One of the first movies I remember seeing in the theater was the “Sound of Music.” In that movie, Julie Andrews sang the song “My Favorite Things.” The favorite…
Read MoreDivine Interruptions
When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus of Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” “Be quiet!” many of the people yelled at him. But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” When Jesus heard him, he stopped and said, “Tell him to come here.”…
Read MoreImpartation
To be “anointed” and to have the ability to “impart” are different, but they relate and work together. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor….” Luke 4:18 For us to be anointed means that a “divine enabling” rests upon us. Whatever we…
Read MoreThe Truth, the Whole Truth…
For I did not keep from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. Acts 20:27 (MEV) The apostle Paul was giving his farewell speech in Ephesus. To say that Paul was concerned about what would happen in the church after his departure is not an overstatement. Paul had invested three years of his life…
Read MoreLet Us Come Boldly
So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. Hebrews 4:16 (NLT) Throughout the ages, it was not customary for subjects of a king or other authority to approach with boldness. Notable exceptions…
Read MoreI Come Expecting Jesus
For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again. 1 Corinthians 11:26 (NLT) The Lord’s Supper, or Communion, is not without controversy. There have been debates over its meaning and significance for centuries. There have been various interpretations regarding the elements of Communion.…
Read MoreLive Courageously
Be alert, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13 (CSB) Stories of courage and heroism inspire us. In the Bible, we read of Daniel facing the lion’s den, or Peter and the apostles, standing before the Council, declaring, “we must obey God rather than man.” Or we might recall Rosa…
Read MoreI Am Resolved
I am resolved to obey your statutes to the very end. Psalm 119:112 (CSB) It is the time of year when people make New Year’s resolutions, or more accurately, New Year’s good intentions. We joke that we forget most declarations by the middle of January. Many New Year’s resolutions involve diet or exercise; even though…
Read MoreAt the Right Time
But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. Galatians 4:4 (NLT) The birth of Christ is the focal point of history. The Bible tells us that the saints who lived before His birth looked forward to that day when the Promised one would come, and…
Read MoreTwo Sides of Contentment
I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. Philippians 4:11 (NLT) Contentment can be elusive. Despite the tenth commandment, or maybe because of it, contentment can be challenging to achieve. Even if we are content right now, we will soon be put to the test. Contentment is not natural. Paul said that…
Read MoreNo Compromise
Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord. Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts. They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in his paths. Psalm 119:1–3 (NLT) The introductory verses in Psalm 119 describe a path of success for…
Read MoreWe Are the Body
Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. Romans 12:4–5 (NLT) When we asked Jesus to forgive our sins and we accepted his gift of salvation, we became a…
Read MorePressing On
Oh, that we might know the Lord! Let us press on to know him. He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring.” Hosea 6:3 (NLT) For you need endurance, so that after you have done God’s will, you may receive what was promised.…
Read MoreSpeak to the Bones
Then he asked me, “Son of man, can these bones become living people again?” “O Sovereign Lord,” I replied, “you alone know the answer to that.” Then he said to me, “Speak a prophetic message to these bones and say, ‘Dry bones, listen to the word of the Lord! Ezekiel 37:3–4 (NLT) Dem bones Dem…
Read MoreSpeak Up
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice. Proverbs 31:8–9 (NLT) Is there anything complicated in understanding the meaning of these verses? I favor the NLT “Speak up for those who cannot speak for…
Read MoreSpeak Faith
We have the same faithful spirit as what is written in scripture: I had faith, and so I spoke. We also have faith, and so we also speak. 2 Corinthians 4:13 (CEB) There is a strong connection between faith and speaking. It is not speech that merely fills the air with sounds; when we speak…
Read MoreGod of Restoration
“So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, The crawling locust, The consuming locust, And the chewing locust, My great army which I sent among you. You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, And praise the name of the Lord your God, Who has dealt wondrously with you;…
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