Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. Hebrews 9:27,28 No one can escape death. And just as certain as death is the judgment that will come after it. That can be a terrifying thought. No one likes to face judgment. The thought of being judged at the end of our life for all the things ...
See that you also excel in this grace of giving. . . For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. 2 Corinthians 8:7,9 “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Do you? Grace is an amazing word. Its definitions is “undeserved love.” But another way to remember what grace means is to think of it as an acronym. Grace is “God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.” You can see God’s grace ...
The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me . . . He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners. Isaiah 61:1 There is great joy when what is broken can be mended and made new. The glass Christmas ornament, which was handed down over generations, falls from the tree and shatters. But it’s not just swept up and thrown in the trash. Someone takes the time to piece it back together, something that seemed impossible, and now it’s better. Jesus, your ...
The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. Isaiah 61:1 News often comes in impersonal ways. You turn on the TV, and the reporter shares the story with anyone listening. You receive a letter addressed to “To whom it may concern.” A company sends a mass email to millions of customers sharing news about a long-awaited product. The less personal the news, the less personal the joy. Picture ancient times as in the days of the Prophet Isaiah. Kings often sent out ...
Don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. Romans 6:3,4 How was your New Year’s celebration? Did you spend time with friends and family? Did you stay up until midnight? Did you sleep in on New Year’s Day? Here’s another question: How has your New Year’s celebration impacted your life in the ...
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven . . . Therefore, encourage one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:16,18 Not too long ago, my wife and I went on a long walk. It was a beautiful day, so we decided to walk beyond our planned path. As we meandered through a subdivision on this unmarked path, we weren’t quite sure where it would lead. Nor did we have our phones on us to provide a map. When we came across two women sitting on the park bench, we didn’t simply ask, “Do you ...
Then King David went in and sat before the LORD, and he said: “Who am I, Sovereign LORD, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?” . . . “How great you are, Sovereign LORD! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears.” 2 Samuel 7:18,22 Happy Thanksgiving! That phrase will be said millions of times today in America. But stop and think: if you say, “Happy Thanksgiving!’ today, what are you actually saying? “Have a good time giving ...
Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” John 6:35 In our lives, there is a constant tension between the physical and the spiritual. Some say physical is for the body, and spiritual is for the soul. Others say that our physical natures are concerned with current matters, but our spiritual natures look to the future. Jesus’ encouragement was not to work for food that spoils but to work for food that endures to eternal life—spiritual things. All of ...
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Psalm 46:1-3 Take a look around. Does it feel to you like the world has gone crazy? Does it seem like everything is crashing down around you, and you have no control and aren’t sure how much more of it you can take? The economy is a source of stress and hand-wringing. ...
And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister. 1 John 4:21 Growing up with siblings can be fun. Brothers and sisters can create good memories. Things like family vacations, playing in the backyard, watching movies, building forts in the basement and snowmen outside are all things that make having siblings fun. It is easy to love our brothers and sisters in moments like those. However, it is not always so enjoyable. Living in close proximity with our siblings can provide ample opportunities for unloving behavior. Arguing, ...
