“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…” (Hebrews 12:1a NLT) The writer of the Hebrew letter opens chapter twelve with a reference to the “huge crowd of witnesses” that have run the race of faithContinue reading “Keeping Our Focus on Jesus (Part 1)”
Tag Archives: sin
What Is Loving Others Supposed to Look Like?
“If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that?” (Matthew 5:46a NLT) Whether we realize it or not, a lot of our values, in terms of what we believe, including how we treat others who are different from ourselves, is “caught” more than taught. What does that mean? It meansContinue reading “What Is Loving Others Supposed to Look Like?”
Keeping Our Eyes on the One Who Is Invisible
“He (Moses) kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible.” (Hebrews 11:27b NLT) What we think about comes about. What we choose as the subject of our focused attention, whether with our eyes, mind and/or heart, becomes, over time, the driving force of our lives. Problems arise whenContinue reading “Keeping Our Eyes on the One Who Is Invisible”
No Longer Alone
“Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’” (Matthew 1:23 NLT) In the opening verses of the Bible, we see the process of creation. The pre-existent Jesus, long before He would allow Himself to become a babyContinue reading “No Longer Alone”
My Way or His HIGH Way?
“So Delilah said to Samson, ‘Please tell me what makes you so strong and what it would take to tie you up securely.’” (Judges 16:6 NLT) Lust is a powerful, seductive, and addictive force. Satan uses the demonic pull of inappropriate desire to lead us in ways God never intended for us to go, yet masksContinue reading “My Way or His HIGH Way?”
Jesus, Friend of Sinners
“…a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!” (Matthew 11:19b) In the Bible, the word we translate in our English Bibles as “sin,” literally means “to miss the mark.” If you’ve ever played darts, or you go to the shooting range, you know there is a large, often, round target with a series of smallerContinue reading “Jesus, Friend of Sinners”
Being Free from Whatever Has You Bound
“Some of you were once like that…” (1 Corinthians 6:11) In 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 Paul writes: “Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, orContinue reading “Being Free from Whatever Has You Bound”
Our Powerful Advocate
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you.” (Acts 1:8 a NLT) Yesterday, we looked briefly at the issue of sin. We used an example from the Bible of a woman who had committed adultery and was brought to Jesus, whose final words to her were “Go and sin no more.”Continue reading “Our Powerful Advocate”
The Issue of Sin
“And Jesus said, ‘…Go and sin no more.” (John 811b NLT) A group of men came to Jesus and declared: “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?’” Actually, the law of Moses stated that the woman AND the man should beContinue reading “The Issue of Sin”
Walking With Jesus 