The One who had been laid in a manger, the One of whom the angels sang, the One shepherds told, and the wise men travelled to see —had grown up to be their friend. Their friend. They had fished together and watched Him feed the five thousand together. But they had also walked miles ofContinue reading ““Is it me?””
Tag Archives: walk in truth
One of the most debated statements Jesus ever made.
It is one of the most debated of the statements Jesus ever made —“But he who endures to the end shall be saved.” (Matt 24:13) What does this mean? “Interpreters offer three basic possibilities for Jesus’ meaning here. One is that those who remain faithful to Christ until death will see eternal salvation—meaning those whoContinue reading “One of the most debated statements Jesus ever made.”
A BRUTAL indictment.
Matthew 23 is nothing short of a brutal indictment of the scribes and Pharisees. Jesus calls them hypocrites and fools. He says they do what they do to be seen by others. He says they put heavy burdens on others that they themselves do not follow. Jesus says, they look good on the outside butContinue reading “A BRUTAL indictment.”
It’s embarrassing to moms everywhere…
Jesus clearly tells his disciples he will be condemned to death and will rise on the third day (Matt 20:17-19). And you’d expect to read of the disciples awe-filled response. But instead, the mother of two of the disciples, James and John, starts lobbying for her sons to have prominent seating in the Kingdom. It’sContinue reading “It’s embarrassing to moms everywhere…”
Even this?
The rich young ruler walked away, sorrowful, but unwilling to part with his great possessions to follow Jesus.(Matt 19:26-26) I’ve wondered again and again if I’m holding anything too tightly or counting on anything more than I count on Jesus. Jesus explains to His disciples how difficult the path will be for those who chooseContinue reading “Even this?”
Louder Lies
Have you ever noticed the enemy’s lies get louder as the trial gets harder? Somehow in the midst of most every trial there seems to be temptation to go our own way and fall prey to sin and its’ consequences. Our enemy, the devil, does not fight fair. In fact, when trials consume us, heContinue reading “Louder Lies”
Let’s don’t miss this. In the early part of Matthew 19, Jesus gives some very important instruction. He says, “He who made them at the beginning made them male and female.” (Matt 19:4) God is very clear that He made two, and only two, genders. To reject this is to rebel against your Creator. WeContinue reading
We need THIS for all our lives.
As the world continues to slide into chaos, I pick up my Bible and open back to Matthew. Forgiveness, and now divorce. Couldn’t Matthew record some easier teachings of Jesus about now? But I guess I know. It’s actually really clear. Jesus spent His very short time on earth telling us the truth because weContinue reading “We need THIS for all our lives.”
Undo YEARS of pain and problems.
As we hear the news of the atrocities committed in Israel, it’s hard for me to think about something like forgiveness. But, I know, it is historically true that unforgiveness that has grown and multiplied, and been passed from one generation to the next, has played a role in these horrific events. For the peaceContinue reading “Undo YEARS of pain and problems.”
Pain Places
I originally shared this several years ago, but felt led to share it again for myself, and maybe for someone else who stumbles across it today. I still live in the same town where my first husband took his life. My life still takes me to the place where the detectives told me they hadContinue reading “Pain Places”
Are there EVIL forces at work among us?
Joe Biden called the horrific actions of Hamas (including the decapitation of babies, the rape of women, the burning alive of entire families) sheer evil. Sheer EVIL.Joe Biden is right. However, this statement is, at its heart, not a political one, but a theological one. Now whether Mr. Biden meant this in this sense —whoContinue reading “Are there EVIL forces at work among us?”
Are you hiding too?
Someone recently told me to “Stop hiding behind your God” when I would not agree with them, that something God clearly calls sin in His Word, was not actually sin. I know this person intended to insult me with the choice of words, but oddly, I felt myself almost smiling at the thought. For IContinue reading “Are you hiding too?”
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…”
Kim Jaggers Ministry 