You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. (Psalm 23:5 NIV) God always rewards His servants in public, and I believe that He does it even more so for their enemies to see. By enemies, I mean people who do the devil’s bidding (News flash:ContinueContinue reading “Front and Center”
Category Archives: New Testament
Back to Basics
Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. (John 21:2-3 NIV) There’s a reason whyContinueContinue reading “Back to Basics”
Beware of Scammers
A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in a lot of business for the craftsmen there. He called them together, along with the workers in related trades, and said: “You know, my friends, that we receive a good income from this business. And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convincedContinueContinue reading “Beware of Scammers”
For Your Benefit
“Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him. Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine.” (John 12:28-30 NIV) Jesus didn’t need to hearContinueContinue reading “For Your Benefit”
Look for the Light
You light a lamp for me. The LORD, my God, lights up my darkness. (Psalm 18:28 NLT) There’s no denying that we’ve been living through some very dark times and are desperately yearning for the light. So did the psalmist in today’s passage. Read at length, Psalm 18 reveals one of David’s darkest moments. ButContinueContinue reading “Look for the Light”
Speak the Language of Love
If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. (1 Corinthians 13:1 NIV) Today the church celebrates Pentecost, a profound time in its history when the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles 50 days after Jesus ascended toContinueContinue reading “Speak the Language of Love”
Leave the Door Open
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.” (Matthew 23:13 NIV) Jesus has had it with the teachers of the law and the Pharisees, and inContinueContinue reading “Leave the Door Open”
If You Knew
Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” (John 4:10 NIV) Many people have presumptions about others that are not true of everyone. The Samaritan woman sure did. She told JesusContinueContinue reading “If You Knew”
Be a Victor, Not a Victim
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. (Romans 8:37 NIV) Victim mentality may get us pity, but it won’t give us power. After listing all of the terrible things that could possibly happen but can’t separate us from God’s love, such as trouble, hardship, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger orContinueContinue reading “Be a Victor, Not a Victim”
Seeing is Believing
The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted. (Acts 20:12 NIV) There’s an interesting resurrection miracle recorded in Acts 20:7-12. After listening to the apostle Paul talk for hours – because he was leaving Troas the next day – a young man by the name of Eutychus falls from the thirdContinueContinue reading “Seeing is Believing”
Rising with the Son 