All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything. 1 Corinthians 6:12 Mastered – Who’s the boss? In it’s simplest terms, that’s the central question of the Christian message. Who’s in charge of you? Bob Dylan correctly observed that all of us “gotta’ serve somebody.” Those who have not come to…
For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot; and like a root out of parched ground; Isaiah 53:2 Root – Jesus is not Superman! He’s not Batman or even Robin. He’s not John Wayne, John Glenn, JFK or FDR. Jesus is nobody we would ever follow, unless we are called. Isaiah chapter 53…
Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; Psalm 139:23 Anxious Thoughts – My greatest battles come from wrestling with my thoughts. My greatest victories come when I let God provide His thoughts and simply obey Him. It’s not easy. In fact, letting God uncover my inner anxious…
but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses Acts 1:8 Witnesses – You and I are called to be martus; martyrs in the cause of Christ. In fact, the purpose of the church is to be a witness to the world. The church does…
And you are witnesses of these things. Luke 24:48 Witnesses – We have an English word that is the direct descendent of the Greek word translated “witness.” Once you recognize the Greek, you will be enlightened about the implications of being a witness. The Greek word is martus from which we derive the English “martyr.” …
Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, Luke 24:45 Opened – Oh, how I wish I had been there. These two men, walking from one village to another, encounter the greatest teacher of all time. As they follow the dusty road, he begins to explain the Scriptures to them. He opens their minds. …
All Scripture is inspired by God 2 Timothy 3:16 Inspired – Shakespeare’s Hamlet is inspired. So are Mozart’s concertos and Beethoven’s symphonies. The Taj Mahal is inspired architecture. Is that what we mean when we say that Scripture is inspired? Do we really mean that it is exceptional, uplifting, energizing and invigorating? Is Scripture inspired…
Pray without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Without Ceasing – As a child, I spent time at summer Bible camp. One of the big prizes given at the end of the camp was a reward for memorizing the most verses of the Bible. John 11:35 and this verse were on everyone’s list. Had we understood the…
If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you. John 15:7 Abide – “If you abide in Me.” Yesterday gave us an exquisite opportunity to do a fearless faith inventory. Do we really have an intimate bond with Jesus that allows no…
If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you. John 15:7 Abide – Have you ever prayed for something but it didn’t happen? Have you begged God for an answer but heard nothing? Have you ever asked, “Why?” but never understood? Jesus…
