Therefore, whatever you want others to do for you, do the same for them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” (Matt 7:12) This is often called the Golden Rule. Jesus is summing up the Law and Prophets, in that, if we simply treated others in the way we want to be treated, weContinue reading “Want some peace? Do this.”
Tag Archives: live the Word
Because of our faith, expect this…
I want everyone I know to come to know Jesus. I tend to see everyone I meet with this in mind. But there are some people who treat Christianity, Christians, and the gospel with contempt and ridicule. Jesus said, “Do not give what is holy to the dogs nor cast your pearls before swine lestContinue reading “Because of our faith, expect this…”
A few thoughts to help us discern our hearts regarding judging
I know many of you, who follow this page, have hearts that love the Lord and want to follow Him closer. Most also know, the Bible tells us our hearts can be deceitful above all things and hard to understand (Jer 17:9). Yesterday, we looked at Matthew 7:1 about judging. I really like what theContinue reading “A few thoughts to help us discern our hearts regarding judging”
How come just a little bit more is never enough?
Eternal or temporary? Am I storing up treasure in heaven or spinning my wheels collecting what will never last? What’s on your agenda for this new week? In talking about this, in Matthew 6:19-24, Jesus is asking us to examine our hearts. The One who knows us better than we know ourselves tells us weContinue reading “How come just a little bit more is never enough?”
In our haste to love others, we can’t encourage sin in their lives.
As we come to what some individuals and corporations are celebrating as “Pride Month”, let’s be careful. Let’s be careful to walk in truth, as defined by the Bible. Let’s understand there is no “my truth” and “your truth.” Let’s understand the danger of the popular phrase -“I’m so happy you found your truth”. TheseContinue reading “In our haste to love others, we can’t encourage sin in their lives.”
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…”
Moving past what you may think you can’t …
“And forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors”. (Matt 6:12, CSB) As we pray for the Lord to forgive our sins, we have to forgive those who have sinned against us. These things go hand in hand. And if we want to experience peace and freedom, if we want to prayContinue reading “Moving past what you may think you can’t …”
Need peace and wisdom? Pray.
If you are a child of God, the sovereign God of the Universe, the Creator of Heaven and earth, the God who commands angels armies, and owns the cattle on a thousand hills, is your Father and most certainly hears your prayers. When Jesus taught His disciples how to pray, he began by using theContinue reading “Need peace and wisdom? Pray.”
When you pray…wow!
One of my sons met his girlfriend’s parents for the first time last week. I was joking with him, and said if the dad asks you your intentions for his daughter, you should say, “I plan to kiss her well and often!” 🤣 I was joking! But as I read about prayer…we really should endeavorContinue reading “When you pray…wow!”
This may get harder…but it’s worth it!
“Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.” (Matt 6:1) The word for charitable deeds here is actually “righteousness”. Jesus will go on to give examples of righteous living including-prayer, fasting, and giving. His point isContinue reading “This may get harder…but it’s worth it!”
Fearful? Not fearful? What’s the difference?
It has to be strange, curious, and honestly, a little absurd, for those who do not fear the Lord, to watch those who do, deal with hard things. What those, who do not fear the Lord, or perhaps have only dabbled in a secular religion, do not understand, is that to fear God, more thanContinue reading “Fearful? Not fearful? What’s the difference?”
I need it just as much today as I did then…
In the years after my first husband took his life, I began to heal. Good days were still coupled with days when I just wanted to cry. And sometimes a good, snot-making cry seemed to help. I tried to hide my tears from my boys, but sometimes their sweet little hugs would bring on moreContinue reading “I need it just as much today as I did then…”
The “be perfect verse” and the freedom it actually gives!!
Matthew 5 ends with Jesus saying, “Therefore you shall be perfect just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” (v 48) He completely knocks the wind out of us who compare ourselves to others and feel like we’ve obtained some sort of religious superiority. For anytime my eyes turn to the Lord, as my standard,Continue reading “The “be perfect verse” and the freedom it actually gives!!”
Christians should be the kindest people unbelievers know.
Jesus continues in his famous Sermon on the Mount to push us to a faith that is heart-deep and true and consistently lived out in our lives. Christians are not to look like this world. We are to live in a way that is eternally focused and notably different from the lost among us. InContinue reading “Christians should be the kindest people unbelievers know.”
Do THIS first….
Jesus knows as we live with others we will have trouble. We will encounter others with whom we disagree with and who disagree with us. We will have disputes and conflicts. We may feel we are right, but we have to be very careful about how we walk this out. As Jesus talks about heartContinue reading “Do THIS first….”
Hope for our TROUBLES
We’ve all seen the seeds of sin left to grow into a raging inferno that destroys people, and families, and communities. As a people, we’ve argued about just what laws we need as a society. As Christians, we believe those laws should be biblically based. But let’s remember, unless hearts change, laws can only everContinue reading “Hope for our TROUBLES”
Where Progressives Get It Wrong
Many, who like to think themselves progressive, suggest the New Testament is all about love not about rules or law. But in Matthew 5:17, Jesus made it clear that He did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it. He asserted that God’s laws should be followed as evidence of a changed heart.Continue reading “Where Progressives Get It Wrong”
Hold On! Encouragement for the Persecuted!
Matthew 5 records Jesus preaching the most famous sermon ever preached. It’s familiar-“Blessed are the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the humble, ….those who are persecuted for righteousness” (Matt 5:2-10). But there’s something I never noticed before- He seems to pause to especially encourage those who are persecuted because of righteousness —not the poor,Continue reading “Hold On! Encouragement for the Persecuted!”
You ready?
Matthew records the calling of Peter and Andrew (Matt 4:18-20). Jesus tells them He will make them fishers of men and they immediately left their nets and followed Him. Going on from there, Jesus calls Zebedees sons, James and John, and they immediately left the boat and their father, and followed Jesus (Matt 4:21-22). TheyContinue reading “You ready?”
The enemy promises freedom but delivers slavery. Test everything.
The enemy is always tempting us and sometimes he will even use God’s Word in his attempts to get us off track. The enemy tempted Jesus in the wilderness to take things in his own hands for his own satisfaction (you’re hungry, turn these stones to bread) (Matt 4:3) Jesus’ human belly was surely growlingContinue reading “The enemy promises freedom but delivers slavery. Test everything.”
Kim Jaggers Ministry 