All Scripture references are quoted from the Christian Standard Bible (unless otherwise noted).
The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way” – “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord,...
“Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” – Isaiah 40:31 If you were walking along, doing just fine, and someone put out their hand and offered to...
“For the Grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.” – Titus 2:11-12 I have often heard people say that the message of...
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart, I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33 It is common for a Christian to desire and seek God’s will in their life. We set...
“If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,’ even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.” – Psalm 139:11-12 I have a good friend who, because of...
“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” – Proverbs 27:17 Proverbs 27:17 is a much loved verse and often quoted as a way of explaining how close friendships make us better. However, I was recently reading an article by Biblical scholars which made the case that this is...
“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came to save sinners – of whom I am the worst.” – 1 Timothy 1:15 One of the biggest obstacles that prevents unbelievers from coming to accept Christ is that they believe they are too bad of a...
“But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.” – Philippians 2:17 In the New Testament, the church of Antioch holds a very special place. It was the first...
“The thief comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy. I have come that they may have life and have it in abundance.” – John 10:10 When we see something blatantly and unthinkably evil, our first inclination is to try to make sense of it. We look at...
“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” – 1 Corinthians 11:1 There have been many athletes in the news lately making headlines for a position that they have decided to take on certain political issues. And though the issues themselves can often be complicated and even convoluted,...
“But the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.’” – 1 Samuel 16:7 Many people who...
“And they were calling to one another: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.’” – Isaiah 6:3 The overarching theme of the Old Testament is God’s holiness. Holiness refers to that fact that God is completely set apart from His creation. The...
“The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” – Genesis 2:15 On Monday of this week, our family dog, Dinah, passed away. Dinah was 17 years old, so none of my five children have ever known...
“Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.”...
“Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator – who is forever praised. Amen.” –...
“A good man produces good out of the good storeroom of his heart. An evil man produces evil out of the evil storeroom, for his mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart.” – Luke 6:45 (HCSB) As a child, did you ever say, “Sticks and stones may break...
“Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you. Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.” – Proverbs 9:8-9 Proverbs chapter 9 holds great truth for...
“For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones.” – Proverbs 2:6-8...
“He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the garbage pile.” – Psalm 113:7 I have always been a little bit of a “gear head.” I enjoy working on cars and motorcycles. I especially love trying to bring classic vehicles back to life. It intrigues me...
“A man’s own foolishness leads him astray, yet his heart rages against the LORD.” – Proverbs 19:2 (CSB) The Bible teaches us that everything truly bad or evil in this world is here as a result of sin. And often times the bad and evil in our own lives is...
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” – Romans 3:23 Recently, I have been dealing with some health problems that have been very challenging for me. My health problems are not especially serious, and many people face much greater difficulties. However, my personal health problems...
“Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.” – 1 Peter 2:16 Yesterday, most Americans celebrated freedom and independence, in recognition of the 4th of July. As usual, that celebration included a great deal of fireworks. Sometimes, probably...
“When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other.” – Ecclesiastes 7:14 It is important, when we experience times of great joy, to remember that every good and perfect gift is from God (James 1:17). We must...
“I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.” – Romans 1:16 There are probably aspects of the Christian life that we each gravitate toward. Some of us love to...
“You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden.” – Matthew 5:14 There is a good chance you have heard this saying of Jesus many times before and, possibly, you have not given it much thought. But today I want to draw your...
“May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.” – 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 Unfortunately, our hope usually resides in our circumstances. We are...
“If the ax is dull, and one does not sharpen its edge, then one must exert more strength; however, the advantage of wisdom is that it brings success.” – Ecclesiastes 10:10 The work God calls us to do as His hands and feet in this broken world is not easy....
“Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” – Psalm 37:4 Have you ever felt like nothing is going your way? Have you ever felt that all your plans seem to be failing? Have you ever felt that God is doing anything but...
“It was good for me to be afflicted so that I could learn Your statutes. Instruction from Your lips is better for me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.” – Psalm 119:71-72 When God sent Moses to speak to the most powerful man in the known world, He purposefully...
“In a loud voice they sang: ‘Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!’ Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is...