Tag Archives: walk in truth

It will burn your house down.

Jesus emphasizes the need to not take sin lightly but radically remove it from our lives when he talks about plucking out your own eye or cutting off your hand if they help you to sin (Matt 18:8-9). For some of us, we need to kill the friendship, block the phone number, throw out theContinue reading “It will burn your house down.”

Let’s tell the whole truth about Christianity.

The Apostle Paul preached grace AND truth. Adrian Rogers once said, “People say, “Don’t take a stand for doctrine. Just be full of love….” Thank God for the love of God. He is love. But that’s not all of the truth. He’s also a God of justice; He’s also a God of truth. And whenContinue reading “Let’s tell the whole truth about Christianity.”

When God does something, or allows something, you don’t like or understand…

Peter gets it. Then he doesn’t. He rightly states that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. (Matt 16:16). He then rebukes the Christ, the Son of the Living God, after Jesus tells the disciples He will suffer many things, be killed and rise on the third day (Matt 16:21-22). Can youContinue reading “When God does something, or allows something, you don’t like or understand…”

Because of Who He is – All of the Word…

As Jesus stands in a city surrounded by throngs of idols, He asks His disciples who others say that He is (Matt 16:13) to which they give various answers. Jesus presses further and says, “But who do you say that I am?” (Matt 16:15) Peter famously replies, “You are the Christ, the Son of theContinue reading “Because of Who He is – All of the Word…”

Those who solely follow their feelings are their own gods.

Instead of looking for ways to follow God closer, many, even many who call themselves Christians, look for loop-holes. They quote scriptures that affirm their feelings and ignore the ones that don’t. In all actuality, they are their own gods who foolishly trust their hearts—hearts that the Bible tells us are deceitful above all things.Continue reading “Those who solely follow their feelings are their own gods.”

Stepping in sin or practicing it?

There is a difference between stepping in sin and walking in it—practicing it as a habit or lifestyle. And those who walk in it, with no desire or effort to walk away from it, should be warned. Jesus said, “The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of HisContinue reading “Stepping in sin or practicing it?”

HE came for Ordinary People with Humble Hearts

Why did Jesus use parables? Jesus tells the Parable of the Soils (Matt 13) about a sower sowing seed and its propensity to come up based on the condition of the soil where the seed fell. The disciples ask Jesus why He speaks in parables and He explains that it has been given to themContinue reading “HE came for Ordinary People with Humble Hearts”

If you’re frustrated over trying harder and messing up, here’s help…

I think it’s HUGE that we understand this! What exactly does Jesus mean when He says, “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds itContinue reading “If you’re frustrated over trying harder and messing up, here’s help…”

Knowing this, is your heart compelled?

The poor guy was demon-possessed, blind, and mute, and Jesus heals him (Matt 12:22). The crowds begin to wonder if Jesus could actually be the Son of David (the Messiah). But the Pharisees accused Jesus of having demonic power to which Jesus logically reasoned, “If Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself. HowContinue reading “Knowing this, is your heart compelled?”

But there’s JOY!

“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!”

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.”

There is both good news and an URGENCY in this message…

As they preached and healed, the twelve disciples were to say, “The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” (Matt 10:7) There is both good news and an urgency in this message. “The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand” should cause us to wake up and notice a powerful Kingdom is indeed at hand. This knowledgeContinue reading “There is both good news and an URGENCY in this message…”

One day in His will is better than a thousand elsewhere!

Jesus saw the multitudes and was moved with compassion for them and said to His disciples, “The harvest is truly plentiful but the laborers are few. Therefore, pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”(Matt 9:37-38) The Enduring Words sheds light on the magnitude of this prayer we are toContinue reading “One day in His will is better than a thousand elsewhere!”

Need Encouragement? Try this…

My heart goes out to the weary and the scattered. I know it’s my Savior who has placed them on my heart because they are on His heart too. His Word tells me — In Matthew 9, Jesus has healed multitudes. He was moved with compassion for them because “they were weary and scattered, likeContinue reading “Need Encouragement? Try this…”

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?”

Just take that ONE step…

How do you come to Jesus?Does it have to be perfect?Absolutely not! In Matthew 9:18-26, Jesus heals the daughter of a ruler and the woman who had been bleeding for twelve years. Both came to Him with incomplete or inaccurate understanding of Jesus… but they came to Him in faith. They knew He had whatContinue reading “Just take that ONE step…”

Need some SOUL REST?

Matthew, the hated tax collector, is called to be a disciple (Matt 9:9) then Jesus sits down to eat with sinners and is questioned by the Pharisees (Matt 9:10-11). Jesus famously says, “But go and learn what this means: “I desire mercy and not sacrifice, For I did not come to call the righteous, butContinue reading “Need some SOUL REST?”

As we do this, we can rest!

I ended up falling asleep for a few minutes on that float. It was glorious. I was tethered with a short rope to our dock and strapped in my life jacket, so I knew I could rest. Following God, through His Word, is another way I know I can rest. But the careless and thoseContinue reading “As we do this, we can rest!”

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…”