When God’s call came, Jonah ran. What kind of servant of the Lord are you? Are you like Jonah? Or are you following Paul’s description of the Lord’s servant to Timothy? Scripture: Jonah, chapters 1-4; 2 Timothy, chapter 2 Jonah 1:1-3 (NASB): The word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, the great city, and cry out against it, because their wickedness has come up before Me.” But Jonah got up to... Read more
In 2 Chronicles 23, we see two examples: the “house of Ahab” and the righteous priest Jehoiada. Whose example are you following? Scripture: 2 Kings, chapter 10; 2 Chronicles, chapters 22-23; 1 Timothy, chapter 5 2 Chronicles 23:16-21 (NASB): Then Jehoiada made a covenant between himself and all the people and the king, that they would be the Lord’s people. And all the people went to the house of Baal and tore it down, and they broke in pieces his... Read more
Part V of “Springtime Scriptures” “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord anointed me to bring good news to the humble; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim release to captives and freedom to prisoners; to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord and the day of vengeance of our God; to grant those who mourn in Zion, giving them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of... Read more
Part IV of “Springtime Scriptures” “My beloved responded and said to me, ‘Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, and come along. For behold, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The blossoms have already appeared in the land; the time has arrived for pruning the vines, and the voice of the turtledove has been heard in our land. The fig tree has ripened its fruit, and the vines in blossom have given forth their fragrance. Arise, my... Read more
Part III of “Springtime Scriptures” This week, we’re looking at “Springtime Scriptures” – passages that talk about God’s work of making all things new. So far, we’ve seen God’s promise to do something new (“I Am Going to Do Something New“). We’ve also considered Paul’s declaration that we are new creations in Christ (“If Anyone Is in Christ, That Person Is a New Creation“). Today, we go back to the Old Testament and Jeremiah’s claim that God’s mercies are new... Read more
Part II of “Springtime Scriptures” This week, I’m looking at “Springtime Scriptures.” These five passages deal with the newness that God works in us as we follow His way. Today, we look at Paul’s familiar encouragement: if anyone is in Christ, that person is a new creation! For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that those who live would no longer live for... Read more
Part I of “Springtime Scriptures” This week, I’m taking a look at some “Springtime Scriptures.” These five passages all deal with different aspects of God’s work of re-creating. Just as Spring brings new life and new hope, so God brings new spiritual life and vitality to those who are open to His work! Today’s passage deals with God’s promise to “do something new” in bringing the Israelites home from exile in Babylon. This is what the Lord your Redeemer, the... Read more
My mom passed away almost 7 years ago, at the age of 92. As another Mother’s Day approaches, I want to reflect on Mom’s influence on me, and our family – particularly in regard to our Christian faith. Mom’s Influence: Taking Us to Church My earliest memories revolve around church – Mishawaka First Church of the Nazarene. Neither of my parents grew up going to church. My mom started attending church with my older sisters when they went to youth... Read more
In Matthew 25, Jesus continues to teach how to be ready for His return. What does it mean to be ready? Scripture: 2 Samuel, chapters 15-16; Psalm 32; Matthew, chapter 25 Matthew 25:1-13 (NASB): “Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the groom. Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. For when the foolish took their lamps, they did not take extra oil with them;... Read more
Christ’s return is a popular subject; people want to know when it will happen. However, it’s more important for know how to be ready for Christ’s return! Scripture: 2 Samuel, chapters 13-14; Matthew, chapter 24 Matthew 24:42-51 (NASB): “Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would... Read more
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