Month: December 2021

And this is love: that we walk in accordance with His commandments and are guided continually by His precepts. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should [always] walk in love. 2 John 1:6 AMP God commands us to always walk in love. That's what it means to … Continue reading Love Is Obedience →

Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to what he was saying. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and … Continue reading The Better Part →

The crucible is for refining silver and the smelter for gold, but the one who purifies hearts ⌞by fire⌟ is the Lord. Proverbs 17:3 GW “Is My word not like fire?” declares the Lord, “and like a hammer which shatters a rock?” Jeremiah 23:29 NASB2020 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among … Continue reading A Crucible For Fire →

Brothers and sisters, together follow my example and observe those who live by the pattern we gave you. For there are many, of whom I have often told you, and now tell you even with tears, who live as enemies of the cross of Christ [rejecting and opposing His way of salvation], whose fate is … Continue reading A Question of Citizenship →

As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him. Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable … Continue reading Love Not Religion →

One person decides that one day is holier than another. Another person decides that all days are the same. Every person must make his own decision. When people observe a special day, they observe it to honor the Lord. When people eat all kinds of foods, they honor the Lord as they eat, since they … Continue reading So This Is Christmas →

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6‭-‬7 NASB2020 A recipe is an algorithm. An algorithm is a set of … Continue reading A Recipe For Peace →

I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together! I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me … Continue reading Unafraid & Unashamed →

Therefore let us get past the elementary stage in the teachings about the Christ, advancing on to maturity and perfection and spiritual completeness, [doing this] without laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of teaching about washings (ritual purifications), the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the … Continue reading Repent From Dead Works →

Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 1 John 4:8 ESV How do you know if you're saved? How can you have confidence on the day of judgment? How can you discern true believers from the counterfeit ones? Is it based on some prayer formula that you recite? Is … Continue reading Discerning The Bride →

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may … Continue reading You Become What You Practice →

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” Matthew 5:8‭-‬9 ESV If you want to know how to become a true Christian, read and study the words of Jesus recorded in Matthew 5, 6 and 7, also known as the … Continue reading Blessed Are The Peacemakers →

Now about food sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge [concerning this]. Knowledge [alone] makes [people self-righteously] arrogant, but love [that unselfishly seeks the best for others] builds up and encourages others to grow [in wisdom]. If anyone imagines that he knows and understands anything [of divine matters, without love], he has … Continue reading The Good Life →

Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born … Continue reading Advancing The Kingdom →

We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. 2 Corinthians 4:8‭-‬9 NLT An encounter with God, an experience with God, sometimes one is all … Continue reading An Age of Awe & Wonder →

Adulterers! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. James 4:4 NRSV Who do you believe? God or the devil? Who do you serve? God or the devil? It's one or the other. How can … Continue reading Out Of This World →

For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons and daughters of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons and daughters by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” Romans 8:14‭-‬15 NASB2020 Pure and … Continue reading The Spirit of Adoption →

“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” John 13:34‭-‬35 NLT “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of … Continue reading Witnessing Love →

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20 ESV Jesus loves you. He gave Himself for … Continue reading The Life I Now Live →

We have come to know [by personal observation and experience], and have believed [with deep, consistent faith] the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides continually in him. In this [union and fellowship with Him], love is completed and perfected … Continue reading Bold As Love →

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. James 1:2‭-‬4 NKJV What does it mean to have your faith tested? I think of it as various … Continue reading Perfected In Patience →

Love endures with patience and serenity, love is kind and thoughtful, and is not jealous or envious; love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant. It is not rude; it is not self-seeking, it is not provoked [nor overly sensitive and easily angered]; it does not take into account a wrong endured. It … Continue reading The Agápē Revival →

Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised … Continue reading Constrained By Love →

Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.” Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, … Continue reading God First →

Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. Colossians 3:14 NLT I asked the Lord what the next move of God would be. He said, “Harmony.” I'll let you meditate on that one. For me, that's a confirmation of what I've been sensing is missing in the Body of … Continue reading Harmony →