I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people. 1 Timothy 2:1 “Be nice to everyone.” Everyone? I couldn’t believe what my mother was telling me. How could I be nice to everyone when everyone isn’t nice to me? But she was standing on solid ground by laying down that principle for life because no less a person than Jesus expressed it himself in the same way, only with slightly different words. “Do to others as you would have them do to you” (Mt 7:12). But by giving ...
I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.” Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God. Luke 9:61,62 Imagine a man stranded on an island. He’s lost all hope of survival. He’s as good as dead. Then someone comes to his rescue. Once he realizes he’s saved, he climbs aboard and doesn’t look back. That’s the way it is with a person who follows Jesus. Jesus has rescued them from death and ...
So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his servant.1 Kings 19:21 A woman once showed her Christian pastor a handbook from her former religion. That religion emphasized her good works rather than God’s gift of salvation. It’s like she was under a yoke of slavery. When she came to know Jesus and his full and free forgiveness, she was relieved; ...
Then he said to me, “Son of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it.” So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth. Ezekiel 3:3 Books designed for children under the age of one have bold black, white, and red illustrations. Those are seen best by developing eyes. Those books often have thick, sturdy pages that can stand going into a baby’s mouth. At that age, everything a baby touches goes into the mouth. It must taste terrible. In the days of the prophet Ezekiel, ...
“I will praise you, LORD. Although you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you have comforted me. Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.” Isaiah 12:1,2 When someone offends or hurts you with words or actions, what’s your most likely response? To show grace or fume with anger? For many of us, too often, we react with anger. In our Bible reading for today, the author says that God was angry with ...
Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. As people moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled there. They said to each other, “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.” Genesis 11:1-4 The people seeking to build this tower had ...
The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life. Revelation 22:17 You just discovered the perfect little place to relax. It is quiet. It is beautiful. No one seems to know about it. Here’s the dilemma: Do you share this information with others, or do you keep it to yourself? Sometimes, we like to keep information like this to ourselves. We are afraid that if too many people ...
After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. Revelation 7:9 When you think of heaven, who do you see there? Is it full of grandmas and grandpas walking down golden streets? Are there white hair harpists floating on clouds everywhere? Are there angelic choirs singing God’s praise from on high? Sometimes, cartoons paint our ideas of heaven more than ...
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interest but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationship with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus. Philippians 2:3-5 How has your attitude been lately? Have you gotten short-tempered with your children, spouse, or employees? Have you been disrespectful to your parents, teachers, or boss? Have you been a little self-righteous and unconcerned about the people around you? How has your attitude been toward the people you run ...
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 1 Corinthians 13:8 We’ve all seen love fail. Marriages end. Friendships break. Families fall apart. Promises are broken. Hearts hurt. So, when the Bible says, “Love never fails,” it might sound more like a wish than a truth. But it is true—because it’s not talking about the kind of love the world knows. It’s talking about God’s love. Our love fails. Often. We lose patience. We say unkind things. ...
