The Heart of the Gospel

“’He saved others,’ they scoffed, ‘but He can’t save Himself! So He is the King of Israel, is He? Let Him come down from the cross right now, and we will believe in Him! He trusted God, so let God rescue Him now if He wants Him! For He said, “I am the Son ofContinue reading “The Heart of the Gospel”

The Only List That Matters

“And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life.” (1 John 5:11-12 NLT) It’s interesting to note that when the Titanic departed on its maiden voyage the passengersContinue reading “The Only List That Matters”

God Speaks

“So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.” (2 Corinthians 12:7b NLT) There are things we do and directions we choose that are dangerous and dishonoring to the Lord. So, there are times, as inContinue reading “God Speaks”

When Sin Is Celebrated

“Jesus replied, ‘I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.’” (John 8:34 NLT) In the early 1970’s Dr. Karl Menninger published a book entitled “Whatever became of sin?” In the era in which we now live sin is so advertised, applauded, and accepted that it doesn’t seem to be problematicContinue reading “When Sin Is Celebrated”

Do You Hate Your Sin?

“They kept demanding an answer, so He stood up again and said, ‘All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!’” (John 8:7 NLT) We are very reluctant to face our own sin unless or until we have no choice. My sense is that to be in the presence ofContinue reading “Do You Hate Your Sin?”

Failure Doesn’t Have to Be Final

“Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me – now let me rejoice. Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt. Create in me a clean heart, O God.Continue reading “Failure Doesn’t Have to Be Final”

Our Land of Promise

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up.” (Hebrews 12:1 NLT) When the children of Israel were delivered from their captivity to the Egyptians, the Lord, throughContinue reading “Our Land of Promise”

No Regrets

“For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow.” (2 Corinthians 7:10a NLT) As you view your life, what do you most regret? Was it something you did that you now wish you hadn’t done? Or wasContinue reading “No Regrets”

Are You Trying to Atone for Your Own Sin?

“For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.” (Romans 5:10-11 KJV) FriendshipContinue reading “Are You Trying to Atone for Your Own Sin?”

The Irony of Christmas

“And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped Him snugly in strips of cloth and laid Him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.” (Luke 2:6-7 NLT) Have you ever been lost? The lastContinue reading “The Irony of Christmas”