Today salvation has come to this house. —Luke 19:9 Zacchaeus was a runt and a crook—a bagman for Rome’s IRS. He swindled tax payers; gave the government their take and pocketed the rest. When people saw him slithering down the street, they quickly […]
Jesus Turns Sinners into Saints Read More »
Whoever loses his life for me will find it. —Matthew 16:25 Legendary coach Vince Lombardi said, “Winning isn’t everything—it’s the only thing!” That’s pretty much the way the world sees things. Jesus turned that view upside down. Winners aren’t the rich, famous, and powerful. Winners are
Winning Turned Upside Down Read More »
Fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you. —2 Timothy 1:6 Many voices jockey for your attention. Some angle for self-gratification, saying that you have the right to spend your time in idleness or personal pleasure. Others shriek that
Finding Your Calling Read More »
Day to day, year to year, news remains pretty much the same … A war going on somewhere. Violence on some street in our hometown. People fighting for position, power, a bigger slice of the pie. Hunger, with pictures so appalling we have to look away. Those who have fallen on hard times living in
News that Doesn’t Make the News Read More »
I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. —Galatians 2:20 “The two most important days in your life,” said Mark Twain, “are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” Be consumed with finding that “why”—absorbed with discovering his purpose for your
While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. —Romans 5:8 Marine Corporal Jason Dunham’s squadron was manning a checkpoint near the Syrian border in western Iraq when a grenade was lobbed into their unit. Dunham dived on it, taking
The Ultimate Sacrifice Read More »
Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? —Romans 8:33 Rom. 8:34 gives four reasons why we escape condemnation: 1) Christ died; 2) Christ was raised; 3) Christ ascended; 4) Christ is interceding. That pinpoints what Christ has done for us, and what he is doing for us. “He
What He Has Done and Is Doing Read More »
I bring you good news of great joy. —Luke 2:10 The birth of Jesus was announced to a gaggle of slack-jawed shepherds as “good news of great joy.” “A Savior has been born,” the angel declared. Good news! Great joy! When Paul described the conversion
Good News! Great Joy! Read More »
God is love. —1 John 4:8 You can whip up a long list of things that are badly wrong in our world. Instead, take a deep breath and think about God … To David he is a forgiving God, abounding in love (Ps. 86:5). To Micah he is a God who delights in showing mercy
As far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. —Romans 12:18 Paul prefaced today’s text with the phrase, “If it is possible” … “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” It’s not always possible, because you occasionally encounter someone who
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