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!!”
Tag Archives: walk in truth
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!”
Do we walk past people with demons inside of them?
Matt 4:23-25 Jesus healed the sick, cast out demons and crowds began to follow Him. He healed the sick AND cast out demons Demons. And I wonder, I know we have the sick among us today, but what about the demon-possessed? Do we walk past those who are carrying demons inside of them? Are thoseContinue reading “Do we walk past people with demons inside of them?”
Evil will not win!
I see it. Evil seems to be winning all around us. It’s hard. I don’t understand it. But it’s not something new with our culture. Evil has been with us for a long time. Matthew 2 details the fulfillment of the prophecy of “Rachel weeping for her children” as Herod slaughters countless male babies underContinue reading “Evil will not win!”
Just do the next right thing…
Something I notice as I read Matthew 1 and 2 is that God didn’t give Joseph all the steps at once—just the next one. But all the while, God was accomplishing His perfect will and working in ways Joseph couldn’t see. Joseph didn’t know the wise men were on their way with gifts. But theyContinue reading “Just do the next right thing…”
First, this…
I can’t turn on the TV, pick up my phone or hit the gym. I wake up early to avoid even those I love. My wandering heart wanders too much to do anything else before I pick up my Bible. It is not that I’m trying harder to be a better Christian or check offContinue reading “First, this…”
Worrying?
There it is again. The Mary/Martha passage. I know it.You probably know it too.I’m tempted to move right past it. Except. I know it is meant for me.Again.😳 “Kim, Kim, you are (still) worried about many things.” Still. How I wish I was more like Mary, and less like Martha, in this encounter with JesusContinue reading “Worrying?”
Don’t let what someone did to you be more than what Jesus did FOR you.
Don’t let what someone did to you be more than what Jesus did for you. We will all be sinned against. None of us will escape this life unscathed. Some will be horrifically wounded by no fault of their own. I do not like it or understand it. However, I do know there are demonicContinue reading “Don’t let what someone did to you be more than what Jesus did FOR you.”
When your problems seem bigger than your faith…
There are THOSE moments when the stuff of this life simply sucks you dry. And you are a Christian. There are days where the problems scream, and everything in you has to fight to remember truth. There are days the battle seems great and the blessings feel, well, small. Real small. And stress, and worry,Continue reading “When your problems seem bigger than your faith…”
Don’t trust yourself
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? (Rom 8:31) God is for us, not against us. I recently heard a pastor say, “Don’t you think if God we’re out to get you, He would have gotten you by now?!” We laugh. We say weContinue reading “Don’t trust yourself”
The Question No One Can Answer For You
As the religious leaders and the crowd cheered for His crucifixion, Jesus was brought before Pilate, who finding no fault in Him, asked the question we all ultimately must ask ourselves— “What then shall I do with this Jesus who is called Christ?” Matt 27:22 The question is meant to be personal. No one couldContinue reading “The Question No One Can Answer For You”
Do you hear His words?
I wonder about that morning after the Triumphant entry, after Jesus had rode in on the donkey, after the crowd had cheered and waved palm branches…I wonder, did He look around at His disciples? I wonder, as the disciples still celebrated the over breakfast, did he wonder if they remembered what He had told themContinue reading “Do you hear His words?”
Hold on!
I have shaken my head so much my neck hurts. I’ve tried to convince myself things aren’t as bad as they seem, but I’m secretly thinking they are worse than we all know. Yes, the world is a dark place, but we, who call ourselves believers, need to diligently remind ourselves of what we believe.Continue reading “Hold on!”
“Well, what if the dollar collapses?”
Our family had been talking about news story after news story, hard things, when one of us remarked,, “Well, what if the dollar collapses?” To which my son, Ben, said, “Well that might be a good thing as it would surely bring revival to this country as hard days often do.” And, honestly, I thoughtContinue reading ““Well, what if the dollar collapses?””
Peace, be still … for the storms tossing us to and fro!
I had woken up to a horrific storm. Wind howling. Sheets of rain. Booming thunder. The storm outside passed, but I couldn’t sleep. Another storm, the one affecting us all, the condition of our world, was on my mind. In Luke 8, Jesus is exhausted from his busy ministry. He tells his disciples to getContinue reading “Peace, be still … for the storms tossing us to and fro!”
When we don’t understand.
I sat crying yesterday as the news of the Nashville school shooting came, not just from my television, but from family and friends. My brother-in-law grew up with the dad of one of the little girls who was killed. My sister-in-law had gone to college with him when he started a ministry there. My husbandContinue reading “When we don’t understand.”
If we ignore sin are we truly loving others?
I’m not the sharpest nail in the box, but when God points out things twice, I tend to pay attention! My daughter, Abi, was recounting a dream she had about John 8 and the woman caught in adultery. She talked about how very vivid the dream seemed. Two days later, I “flopped” my Bible openContinue reading “If we ignore sin are we truly loving others?”
When you feel afraid…
Three years ago today, my daughter sent me these words. The world has only gotten scarier but her words are still keep-you-going truth…. Completely and utterly afraid… Overwhelmed, tired, ready to wake up from this bad dream… That’s exactly how I feel. I have this knot in my stomach, and this fear, every time IContinue reading “When you feel afraid…”
Kim Jaggers Ministry 