“Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited…” (Phil. 2:5-6) Exploitation is a dirty word because it’s ugly and heinous for one person to use another, one race to put down …
Tag: challenge
Jesus can Lift Up, Heal and Mend Us
“When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, ‘What are you looking for?’ They said to him, ‘Rabbi (which translated means Teacher), ‘where are you staying?’” (Jn. 1:38) When Jesus noticed that some people were following him, He turned around and asked, “What are you looking for?” Did they answer? No. …
The Presence of Jesus In Us
“When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb.” (Lk. 1:41) “… it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me.” (Gal. 2:20) The joy that Elizabeth and Mary shared in today’s first scripture could only have happened with God. Elizabeth was considered too old to become …
Living Into God’s Purpose For Your Life
“Let your word be ‘Yes, Yes’ or ‘No, No’; anything more than this comes from the evil one.” (Matthew 5:37) If we’re going to have a meaningful life, we must learn how and when to clearly say yes and how and when to clearly say no. So many people find it difficult to be …
The Lord God is Always With You
“I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord, your God, is with you wherever you go.” (Josh. 1:9) Once I was asked to give a graduation address to some men who, after leaving prison, had joined an intensive program to change their lives. Before giving …
Belonging to the Lord Jesus
“‘In the resurrection, then, whose wife of the seven will she be? For all of them had married her.’ Jesus answered them, ‘You are wrong because you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.’” …
God’s Extravagant Love and Grace
The wine steward said, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.” (John 2:10) Just as Jesus saved the wedding festivities for that young couple long ago in Cana, so He can do the same in …
Running on Empty
“When the wine steward tasted the water that had become wine and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom and said to him, ‘Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But …
Take Your Doubts and Struggles to God
“When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. At three o’clock, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?’ which means, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’” (Mark 15:33-34) During the first semester of my senior year in college, I decided to …
Traveling With Jesus
Jesus said, “Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money—not even an extra tunic.” (Luke 9:3) When many of us travel, we try to get as much as possible in our suitcases. We do so because we don’t want to be caught with the wrong or not enough clothes at …