A. W. Tozer said that there ought to be a beautiful paradox in Jesus’ followers. We ought to be joyful that the Lord has found us and blessed us. And at the same time we ought to continue pursuing Him. We are to be glad that we have God on our side, yet always want more of Him. Augustine said: …
I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say (Part 1)
Joy and peace are rare in America. Politics have divided people into two camps: angry and angrier. Scripture says: “The wicked are like the tossing sea, which cannot rest, whose waves cast up mire and mud.”1 The 24-hour news cycle, combined with the barrage of economic recession, the pandemic, moral crises, natural disasters, and social unrest, has exhausted many of …
Sins Blotted Out in Christ (Part 2)
I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud and your sins like mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you. (Isaiah 44:22 ESV) Thank God, He provides fresh starts and new beginnings for Jesus’ followers! Scripture says: “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning. Great …
Sins Blotted Out in Christ (Part 1)
I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud and your sins like mist; return to me, for I have redeemed you. (Isaiah 44:22 ESV) Amazon Alexa I don’t have Alexa, the voice-controlled device, but I read that it has a surprising feature. It can erase everything you say. Whatever you have asked Alexa to do, whatever information you’ve asked …
Christ Is Everything: Our Living Hope
In Matthew 28, Jesus had already been raised from the dead. But the women did not know that yet and came to His gravesite. The angel said, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; He has risen, just as He said. Come and see the place where …
Christ Is Everything: Jesus the Capstone
Lord, thank you for responding to me. You’ve truly become my salvation! The stone the masons discarded as flawed is now the capstone! This is God’s work. We rub our eyes—we can hardly believe it! This is the very day God acted—let’s celebrate and be festive! Salvation now, God. Salvation now! Oh yes, God—a free and full life! (Psalm 118:21-25 …
Christ Is Everything: Resurrection Reality
Jesus said, “I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.” (Revelation 1:18) This builds on a previous post. You can read Christ Is Everything: I Need Him Our Historical Foundation Remember what we believe: God the Son became human through His miraculous …
Christ Is Everything: I Need Him
In Christ all the richest treasures of divine wisdom (insight into God’s ways and purposes) are stored up and safely kept. Jesus is the key who opens all the riches of spiritual knowledge and enlightenment. (Colossians 2:3, my expanded paraphrase) Introduction. I providentially stumbled onto the song, “Christ Is Everything; I Need Him.” I don’t know the author, but if …
Our Inheritance is Guarded and So Are We
Everyone who has left houses, brothers, sisters, father, mother, children, or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life….Then the King will say to those on His right: Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. (Matthew 19:29; 25:34) This builds on …
Our Inheritance Cannot Spoil or Fade
Those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the earth…The blameless spend their days under the Lord’s care, and their inheritance will endure forever….Hope in the Lord and keep His way. He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are destroyed, you will see it….Abraham was looking forward to …