Can I Know for Sure?

“I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life. And we are confident that He hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases Him. And since we know He hears us when we make our requests, we alsoContinue reading “Can I Know for Sure?”

What Is Jesus Saying to You from the Cross?

“When Jesus saw His mother standing there beside the disciple He loved, He said to her, ‘Dear woman, here is your son.’ And He said to this disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ And from then on this disciple took her into his home.” (John 19:26-27 NLT) Have you ever wondered why John was the onlyContinue reading “What Is Jesus Saying to You from the Cross?”

Vicious But Not Victorious

“When the seventy-two disciples returned, they joyfully reported to Him, ‘Lord, even the demons obey us when we use Your name!’ ‘Yes,” He told them, ‘I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightening! Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions andContinue reading “Vicious But Not Victorious”

Sticks and Stones

“’Teacher,’ they said to Jesus, ‘this woman was caught in the act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?’” (John 8:4 NLT) It’s unlikely that any of us have been caught in the “act of adultery,” except perhaps in our mind, but we’ve all been tempted, as wereContinue reading “Sticks and Stones”

Learning to Love God

“And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today.” (Deuteronomy 6:5-6 NLT) My sense is that even if we know this command when we first respond to Christ’s invitation toContinue reading “Learning to Love God”

Are You Radically Christian?

“God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us to do good works, which God planned in advance for us to live our lives doing.” (Ephesians 2:10 NCV) While visiting in another country I was privileged to speak with men of God who had far less than me materially, but whoContinue reading “Are You Radically Christian?”

A Final End

“So you see, the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials, even while keeping the wicked under punishment until the day of final judgment.” (2 Peter 2:9 NLT) Are there days you think will never end? How about seasons of suffering, heartache, or temptation? How about the seeming endless prayers for lostContinue reading “A Final End”

Are You a Rookie at Heart?

“Some of the Pharisees said, ‘This man Jesus is not from God, for He is working on the Sabbath.’ Others said, ‘But how could an ordinary sinner do such miraculous signs?’ So there was a deep division of opinion among them.” (John 9:16 NLT) One of the people I most want to meet when IContinue reading “Are You a Rookie at Heart?”

Why Grief Is a Gift?

“He was despised and rejected – a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on Him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care.” (Isaiah 53:3 NLT) The verse above, at least for me, puts all my grief and pain into a whole new frame ofContinue reading “Why Grief Is a Gift?”

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”