Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV) This year has no doubt been hard on all of us. Not many of us will be quick to heed Paul’s exhortation in today’s passage to “give thanks,” let alone “in all circumstances.” But if you’reContinueContinue reading “Rise Again with Gratitude”
Category Archives: New Testament
They Need It More
“The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends…” “‘MyContinueContinue reading “They Need It More”
Live at Peace
Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. (Romans 12:18 NLT) Even the great apostle realized that in a world of strife it’s not always easy to live at peace. Nevertheless, he encourages us to make it our goal. Jesus pronounced a blessing on peacemakers, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they willContinueContinue reading “Live at Peace”
Giving and Receiving
“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.” (Malachi 3:10 NIV) DidContinueContinue reading “Giving and Receiving”
Be a Blessing
Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he had many possessions. (Matthew 19:21-22 NLT) I once heardContinueContinue reading “Be a Blessing”
Special to God
Jesus’ favorite disciple was sitting next to him at the meal. (John 13:23 CEV) Jesus chose twelve disciples, but only three chose to be close to Him–Peter, James and John. Still, only John came to be known as Jesus’ “favorite disciple.” Of course, Jesus loved all of His disciples, but as J. Oswald Sanders notes,ContinueContinue reading “Special to God”
Don’t Show Favouritism
My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others?(James 2:1 NLT) Even the best of us are guilty of showing favouritism. But did you know that God is against it? The Bible tells us that God doesn’t show favouritismContinueContinue reading “Don’t Show Favouritism”
Being a Child of God
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.(Matthew 5:46-48 NIV) A family memberContinueContinue reading “Being a Child of God”
The Giver of Every Good and Perfect Gift
Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (James 1:16-17 NIV) How many times have you heard a well-intentioned person claim that something is the will of God when the evidenceContinueContinue reading “The Giver of Every Good and Perfect Gift”
How Do You Use Your Title?
“But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah.” (Matthew 23:8-10 NIV) God isn’tContinueContinue reading “How Do You Use Your Title?”
Rising with the Son 