All Scripture references are quoted from the Christian Standard Bible (unless otherwise noted).
“But you, man of God, flee from these things, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness.” – 1 Timothy 6:11 Whenever my kids have a day of no school and no extracurricular activities, they always ask to watch TV, play on the computer, or play video games. My wife...
“Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me—nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” – Luke 22:42 What is faith? I’ve heard a lot of definitions over the years, and many of them are excellent. I’ve never tried to create a definition of my own because I...
“I remember the days of old; I meditate on all you have done; I reflect on the work of your hands.” – Psalm 143:5 Yesterday my wife and I had the opportunity to share the testimony of our relationship with a group of high school students. We talked about how we...
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.” – Hebrews 4:15 Chances are, you have felt a whole range of emotions over the last...
“See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel, which is translated ‘God is with us.’” – Matthew 1:23 How would you feel about a friend who would not spend time with you unless you set aside special moments to only be...
“He replied to him, ‘Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?’ Pointing to his disciples, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.’” – Matthew 12:49-50 Christmastime is meant to be...
“Though I have many things to write to you, I don’t want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to come to you and talk face to face so that our joy may be complete.” – 2 John 1:12 Travel during the time of the New Testament was no easy...
“David said, ‘My son Solomon is young and inexperienced, and the house that is to be built for the Lord must be exceedingly great and famous and glorious in all the lands. Therefore, I will make provision for it.’ So David made lavish preparations for it before his death.” – 1...
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His faithful love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods. His faithful love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords. His faithful love endures forever.” – Psalm 136:1-3 As a parent it is always interesting to see the...
“Open my eyes so that I may contemplate wondrous things from your instruction.” – Psalm 119:18 As a father of five children, I hear requests all the time. Usually it is things like, “can I play my video game?”, “can I have dessert?”, “can we go to the trampoline park?”, “can...
November 9, 2022 “Iron sharpens iron, and one person sharpens another.” – Proverbs 27:17 I have recently had the privilege of team-teaching a discipleship class alongside a man named Mark. This man is a bit younger than me (okay…he is A LOT younger than me). As I began this endeavor with...
“When this corruptible body is clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal body is clothed with immortality, then the saying that is written will take place: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, death, is your victory? Where, death, is your sting?’” – 1 Corinthians 15:54-55 Someone very close to me...
“When the servant of the man of God got up early and went out, he discovered an army with horses and chariots surrounding the city. So he asked Elisha, ‘Oh, my master, what are we to do?’ Elisha said, ‘Don’t be afraid, for those who are with us outnumber those...
“About the times and the seasons: Brothers and sisters, you do not need anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:1-2 It has been my experience...
“In him (Christ) are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” – Colossians 2:3 I recently bought a used car for my oldest daughter to drive during her senior year of high school, and to possibly take to college next year. I got a great deal on the car because...
“So then, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in him.” – Colossians 2:6 In Christianity we tend to focus on one singular event in our walk with Christ. We like to hear testimonies about the day God rescued someone from the horrible state they were...
“The Lord looks down from heaven; he observes everyone.” – Psalm 33:13 How much do you pray? If the answer is not, “every moment!,” then you do not pray enough. Some of you reading this today may pray only in the direst circumstances. Some of you may set aside times of...
“I will be the same until your old age, and I will bear you up when you turn gray. I have made you, and I will carry you; I will bear and rescue you.” – Isaiah 46:4 A good friend of mine, who is an incredible encourager, recently texted me the...
“You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. You show that you are Christ’s letter, delivered by us, not written with ink but with the Spirit of the living God—not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.” – 2 Corinthians 3:2-3 Lately...
“So if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.” – 1 Corinthians 12:26 Several years ago, I broke both of my shoulders. One shoulder has healed really well and most of the time that injury does not affect...
“Fathers, don’t stir up anger in your children, but bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” – Ephesians 6:4 My oldest daughter will be leaving for college next fall…hopefully. Right now, she is looking at several different colleges and trying to figure out costs, scholarships, and grants....
“When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?” – Psalm 8:3-4 (ESV) Over my years of ministry, I...
“This is what the Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, says to all the exiles I deported from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them. Plant gardens and eat their produce. Find wives for yourselves, and have sons and daughters. Find wives for your sons and give...
“You, Lord, will guard us; you will protect us from this generation forever. The wicked prowl all around, and what is worthless is exalted by the human race.” – Psalm 12:7-8 This morning my oldest daughter left for the first day of her last year of high school. Because of that,...
“But the Israelites said, ‘We have sinned. Deal with us as you see fit; only rescue us today!’ So they got rid of the foreign gods among them and worshiped the Lord, and he became weary of Israel’s misery.” – Judges 10:15-16 How many times have you cried out to the...
“When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they shouted, saying in the Lycaonian language, ‘The gods have come down to us in human form!’… The apostles Barnabas and Paul tore their robes when they heard this and rushed into the crowd, shouting, ‘People! Why are you doing these things?...
“But in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.” – 1 Peter 3:15 I have always heard 1 Peter 3:15 quoted by apologists. If You are not...
“After this I looked, and there was a vast multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language, which no one could number, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes with palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:...
“For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” – Galatians 1:10 Charles Spurgeon once said, “I fear some men would sooner be damned than...
