"But he said to them, "Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here…” – Mark 16:6 REFERENCE: Mark 16:1-8 The Jewish leaders requested that Pilate would tightly secure the tomb of Jesus. A large stone was rolled over the entrance to the grave, sealed with an official seal, and soldiers stationed there to ensure that the fate of Jesus remained sealed. Satan did his worst and recruited the Roman government to execute his hate against Jesus. However, there would be a shocker. If those who rolled the stone...
“For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” ~ Romans 5:6 REFERENCE: Romans 5:6-11 Happy Good Friday! That is what we say today, but it was not ‘happy’ over two thousand years ago when Roman soldiers nailed Jesus to a rugged wooden cross. It was a painful sight as the Son of God was hanging on the cross, almost naked, bloodied, and insulted by passersby. Was he hanged like a criminal for an offense He committed? NO! It was for an offense He did not commit. You and I committed the offense, but...
"A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher." – Luke 6:40 REFERENCE: LUKE 6:39-40 Our ultimate goal as believers is to become disciples of Jesus. A disciple is a disciplined student who trusts and follows the teaching and practices of his teacher. A disciple of Christ, therefore, is someone committed to following Jesus, not just in words but deeds. Getting saved is excellent, but there is more; being a part of a cell group is good, but that is not the goal; worship and giving are commendable, but discipleship is...
“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” ~ I Thessalonians 5:23 REFERENCE: I Thessalonians 5:23-24 Humans are three-part beings. We are a spirit, have a soul, and live in a body. For this reason, God wants us to live lives that cater to this triune reality – a three-way living. Paul said God wants our spirit, soul, and body to be wholly sanctified; He wants us to live balanced lives that make significant investments in each of...
“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea…behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?” ~ Matthew 2:1-2 REFERENCE: Matthew 2:1-5 “Have you heard?” You must have heard this phrase several times, often relating to a rumor in your community. You wonder, “Why am I always the last person to hear what is happening?” True, if it is about a rumor, you don’t need to bother yourself, but if it is information that could help your business, protect you, your family, and your investment, or give...
"Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your son lives." So, the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way." ~ John 4:50 REFERENCE: John 4:46-54 A most distressing situation for any parent is to have a sick child whose sickness has lingered and defied medicine. A sense of confusion and hopelessness must have overwhelmed this Nobleman's mind, wondering how he would help his son. He appealed to Jesus on a not-too-sure platform in his request. Still, we eventually see him rise to an admirable level of faith. We hear the irritation in...
"The sick man answered, 'Sir, there is no one to help me get into the water when it starts moving. I try to be the first one into the water. But when I try, someone else always goes in before I can.'" ~ John 5:7 (ERV) REFERENCE: John 5:1-9 (ERV) We often find ourselves in situations where we wish to get something, be somewhere, or have the opportunity to meet someone, but our wishes elude us. A sense of hopelessness soon engulfs you, and you mutter, "I have no one to help me." Especially in a country like ours where it...
"Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful." ~ Proverbs 27:6 REFERENCE: Proverbs 27:5-6 Our text sounds like an oddity; 'wounds of a friend.' This is not how many of us see friendship; we see it as a safe space, a platform for expressing and receiving love, and it is. However, there is more; friendship hurts sometimes, and many who do not understand this have been hurt by it and have vowed to be loners, unwilling to mingle with others because of such hurts. We are humans, limited in knowledge and a bag of...
"But Moses said to God, "I am not a great man! How can I be the one to go to Pharaoh and lead the Israelites out of Egypt?"– Exodus 3:11 (ERV) REFERENCE: Exodus 3:7-11, 4:1-10 (ERV) Ask many people; they will tell you they believe that God can do great things, but they are not sure He can do it through or for them. God may use some well-known person with an illustrious background, but rarely them. It is a mindset that says, "I am not a great man, so don't expect great things from me." Before you can...
“He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, o love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” ~ Micah 6:8 REFERENCE: Micah 6:8 The various religious beliefs and spiritual practices that claim to have the ‘light’ and offer salvation are puzzling. There are almost as many ideologies as there are people groups on earth. Man forms his religion and sets its rituals and practices: sacrifices, rites, doctrines, worship, order, etc. People do all sorts, but who cares to inquire about what the Lord requires? Scripture...