Romans 9:1 "I speak the truth in Christ - I am not lying, my conscience
confirms it in the Holy Spirit..."
As followers of Jesus we are called to be counter cultural, because we are
"aliens and strangers in the world". (1 Peter 2:11) There will be times when
the message we have to share will not be well received by those who hear it.
In fact, at this time, some of Jesus' teachings are often judged as...

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Colossians 3:12 "Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience."
We have all heard that we can tell a lot about a person by the company she keeps. That is very true ... so long as we know why she has chosen such friends. The accusation that Jesus was a "friend of sinners" was indeed valid. But, His choice of companions was not based on a mutual enjoyment of an immoral lifestyle. In Luke...

Revelation 22:12 "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with Me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done."
Something about Jesus prompts people to take sides. Ultimately, each of us must either be for Him or against Him. "For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?" (2 Corinthians 6:14).
Jesus Himself declared, "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to...

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Have you ever been to the point where you felt as if you were just hanging in there, and the thread you were holding on to was about to break?
Well, that is exactly how I have been feeling lately. But the other day while I was praying something happened which...

Colossians 2:6-8 "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ."
When Paul writes to the Christians of Colosse, he is clearly addressing some false teaching that...

Philippians 3:10-11 "I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like him in His death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead."
Throughout history followers of Christ have chosen to make sacrifices for the sake of Jesus. Like Paul tells us in verse 8 of this Scripture, "What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my...

Ephesians 6:11 "Put on the full armor so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes."
Most adults have a pretty regular morning routine. From a cup of coffee or tea, reading the paper, breakfast with family or alone, there are certain patterns in everyone's life that add strength, vitality and purpose to our days.
But, stop and think about routines for a minute...ladies - clothes, make up and hair now men - clothes, hair and shaving. We all...

Isaiah 6:9-10 "He said, `Go and tell this people: Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving. Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes. otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.`"
We serve a loving, caring, compassionate and long suffering God. But, in this case, the people's chronic rebellion has withered His patience. These verses...

2 Corinthians 7:1 "Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God."
Paul is telling us that through believing and accepting the promises of God's Word into our lives daily, we need to choose to "cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting a holiness in the fear of God." In The Living Bible, 2 Corinthians 7:1...

Matthew 5:13 "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men."
Jesus calls His people to be the salt of the earth. Salt is a preservative which retards decay. As Christians when the sprinkling of this "salt" begins we are to seek ways to preserve others. In times of chaos, it is so fulfilling to...

Mark 9:38 "`Teacher`, said John, `we saw a man driving out demons in Your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.`"
The disciples enjoyed being on the "inside" track with Jesus, so much so that John assumed that anyone else who was performing miracles in Jesus' name was in the wrong. But, Jesus quickly straightened out John's thinking. In effect, Jesus told John, You may not know him, but I do and...

Acts 8:34-35 "The eunuch asked Philip, `Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?` Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus."
The story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:26-40) teaches that meeting people where they are and allowing God to work is the best approach when sharing our faith, God definitely has an agenda, and simple obedience...even when we do not understand the...

1 Chronicles 4:9-10 "Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying `Because I bore him in pain.` And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying `Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!` So God granted him what he requested."
The following is taken in part from...

Psalm 37:4 "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart."
David expresses in this psalm a deep truth that he has discovered...if he finds his life's delight in the Lord, all of his desires will be fulfilled. To delight in someone is to find joy in their presence, to welcome their unique qualities and to express pleasure in their company.
When we make the Lord the object of our delight, spending time in...