“Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation.” Colossians 1:21-22 If only we could see one another as God does. We see skin...
Such confidence we have through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the...
“And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.” Matthew 2:12 “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that...
“Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause. ‘Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like...
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 Weary? ...
Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 2 Timothy 4:2 “Be prepared!” It is an exhortation heard from scoutmasters and apostles alike. As if things were not challenging enough for pastors and church leaders in the midst of a...
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. Romans 8:18 Fifty years ago, the sweet harmonies of The Temptations took on a rough edge as they sang, “Ball of Confusion, that’s what the world is today.” ...
Who Is My Neighbor? And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with...
Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. Psalm 55:22 What’s going on? How are you doing? What’s up? These are frequently asked questions that in other times have generally found meaningless responses. However, in our socially distant days,...
And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”… And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll...