“And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.” (Matt 10:38) When Jesus spoke these words, those who heard them were well aware of their meaning. Crucifixion on a cross was a gruesome punishment already in practice. They had heard the nails. They had seen the bloodContinue reading “But there’s JOY!”
Tag Archives: hold on
It’s so very difficult, but we know the way we should take.
Jesus speaks encouraging then sobering words—“Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.” (Matt 10:32-33) Jesus goes on to explain how His coming will impact the world—Continue reading “It’s so very difficult, but we know the way we should take.”
What I remember when I want to quit.
I remember it was early morning, and I was weary and wondering if God really wanted me to keep studying and publicly sharing what He was teaching by speaking and writing. This was years ago. I sat praying and wrestling with how easy it seemed for some to only give the things of Christ aContinue reading “What I remember when I want to quit.”
When persecution comes from those closest to us.
When last discussing the book of Matthew, I shared about the warning of persecution Jesus gives His followers in Matthew 10:16-20. Jesus goes on to explain that this conflict and persecution will even come for His followers from their own families. (Matt 10:21-22) After all, Jesus faced persecution from his own family, so why wouldContinue reading “When persecution comes from those closest to us.”
Need path-straightening direction?
I study the Bible in order to apply it to my life because I trust God’s ways are right and better than mine. I trust Him more than my emotions, my gut instinct, our culture, or how I was raised. I want to acknowledge Him in all my ways and count on Him to makeContinue reading “Need path-straightening direction?”
When people God used… fail miserably
Matthew lists the twelve disciples by name and tells us Jesus gave them power to cast out unclean spirits, and heal those who were sick. (Matt 10:1-4). Judas was included in this list, and the text seems to suggest he also was given power to cast out unclean spirits and heal the sick. As IContinue reading “When people God used… fail miserably”
Knowing THIS comforts me when I’m ridiculed
“And they ridiculed him.” (Matt 9:24) Matthew makes it clear.Jesus was ridiculed. The One who came to heal the sick, comfort the broken-hearted, and to die so we could live was ridiculed. He was ridiculed. He was made to feel ridiculous, and his good motives scorned. It hurts my heart. And if you’ve been tryingContinue reading “Knowing THIS comforts me when I’m ridiculed”
Why are so many young adults walking away?
Many young adults are walking away from the church–deciding the world has so much more to offer. Why? Why are so many young adults deciding Jesus really isn’t for them? Perhaps they are willing to “sell Him so cheaply” because they also bought into Him so cheaply. Have we failed a generation by entertaining themContinue reading “Why are so many young adults walking away?”
Demons and a bit of my story…
We have just seen Jesus calm the storm and the disciples ask, “Who can this be, that even the wind and seas obey Him?” (Matt 8:27) Matthew 8:28-34 describes Jesus encountering two demon-possessed men who, ironically, absolutely know Who He is and exclaim, “What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God?”Continue reading “Demons and a bit of my story…”
With just a WORD!
Jesus heals Peter’s mother-in-law, she gets up and serves Him, then the crowds come, including the sick and the demon-possessed. Matthew tells us, “He drove out the spirits with a word” (Matt 8:16, NKJV) Can we stop right there?! Jesus drove out demonic spirits with a word! Only a word! Later, Matthew will describe howContinue reading “With just a WORD!”
Jesus Never Fails.
When our faith is strong, Jesus is there. When we fall apart, He is still there. Jesus had just finished teaching the famous parable about building our houses on the rock (Matt 7:24-27), heals a leper,(Matt 8:1-4) and then walks into Capernaum. He is quickly met by Jewish elders requesting help for a Centurion—a RomanContinue reading “Jesus Never Fails.”
I know you can. But God, will you?
Matthew chapter 8 opens with a leper kneeling at Jesus’ feet and saying, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus replies, “I am willing; be made clean.” (8:3) And the Enduring Word quotes an old Scottish theologian, known to have wrestled in his early years through trials and doubts, who says,Continue reading “I know you can. But God, will you?”
You can stand on SOLID ground!
You can hear the Word of God and not do it. You can nod yes with your head and walk the opposite way with your feet. But Jesus told us, “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”Continue reading “You can stand on SOLID ground!”
Following Jesus. It’s so very worth it.
Narrow is the gate and difficult is the way”. (see Matt 7:14) Makes you want to sign right up doesn’t it? 😳 When we choose to follow Christ, we are, in fact, choosing that which the world mocks. We are opting for a hard road full of trouble in this life. Jesus has always beenContinue reading “Following Jesus. It’s so very worth it.”
I know you get weary…
Jesus has already talked a lot about prayer then famously says, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you.” (Matt 7:7) This is not prosperity preaching. This is encouraging instruction on the perseverance and power of prayer! Jesus is telling us thatContinue reading “I know you get weary…”
On JUDGING
“But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” Heb 5:14 ESV If we want to grow in spiritual maturity, we are supposed to constantly practice discerning good from evil. Wouldn’t that require us to call some things “good” andContinue reading “On JUDGING”
You don’t have to worry…
It’s one of the most beautiful, comforting, quoted parts of the Bible —“ Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?”(Matt 6:23-25)Continue reading “You don’t have to worry…”
This verse can be confusing…
This particular verse can be confusing- “And do not lead us into temptation but deliver us from the evil one.” (Matt 6:13) We know God would not tempt us to sin or lead us into temptation as we think of temptation (James 1:13) Remember, we read the Word with the Word and James 1:13 says,Continue reading “This verse can be confusing…”
We got in a fight right after I snapped this snugly pic…
About five minutes after I snapped this snuggly pic , we got into a fight. A fight. Yep. Us. And, this fight will likely not be the last. Oh, our disagreements come less often, but even after all these years together, we still have them. I expect, being the two flesh-filled sinners that we are,Continue reading “We got in a fight right after I snapped this snugly pic…”
When you love a lost sheep…
It’s easy to feel forgotten. It’s easy to think God does not care about what our weary worn hearts care about. But He does. He cares about the one.The each one.The lost onesand the messed-up ones. In Luke 15, Jesus was eating with sinners and the religious leaders are shocked. Jesus then tells the famousContinue reading “When you love a lost sheep…”
Kim Jaggers Ministry 