“15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.” -1 Peter 3:15-17 As people who follow Jesus, we will naturally have people who question why we worship a... Read more
“11 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” -1 Peter 2:11-12 It is easier to live with an eternal perspective when you realize this world is not our home. Peter used the example of the immigrant... Read more
“8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” -1 Peter 1:8-9 These verses are some of my favorite in Scripture. Why? When I was 17, I first began to seriously read the Bible. Where did I begin? 1 Peter. In... Read more
“16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. 17 Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.” -James 5:16-18 Prayer. By... Read more
“7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” -James 4:7-10 God promises to come near to those who come near to him. So... Read more
“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.” -James 3:13 Defining wisdom takes a wise person. James, the first leader of the Jerusalem Church, offers a deeply spiritual perspective that contrasts what often first comes to mind when we think of someone who is wise. We tend to think of wisdom as acquired knowledge; someone who we could call a walking encyclopedia. James,... Read more
“14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is... Read more
“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” -James 1:22 The book of James is perhaps the most direct letter in the New Testament. Rather than word pictures or abundant illustrations, James gets down to business by verse 2. By verse 22, he bluntly informs readers, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” James is clear that listening to spiritual truth is important, but it’s... Read more
“Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.” -Hebrews 13:3 Nearly one million Americans are incarcerated or under probation, equaling one out of ever 100 American adults. Prison is a not a place; it’s an epidemic. Yet the old adage often applies–“out of sight, out of mind.” When we cannot see those in need, it’s easy to forget them completely. Many early... Read more
“1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who... Read more
Holy Writ
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