Are we seeking a shiny new object?
I am seeking a new and shiny object. Innovation is cool. The new thing is the holy grail. I love …
Category Archives: God’s Goal
Why are So Many Young Americans Irreligious? The Secular Brainwash is the First Reason
Dennis Prager is a conservative radio talk show host and writer. He is the host of the nationally syndicated radio talk show The Dennis …
“Let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.” ~Apostle Paul
I get distracted. It seems to happen too easily. It must be the “shiny new object” syndrome. Jesus challenges me …
“We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word.” ~Apostle Paul
God is open and plainly shares truth with us. God has given us good news and made it known without …
“A good man will be filled with the fruit of his ways.” ~King David
There is such a thing as tit for tat. Being mean gets you meanness in return. While Jesus teaches us …
“Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother?” ~Apostle Paul
To whom do I answer? Is it the minister, my wife, my boss, or my children? It is a simple …
“I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” ~God
How often do I dwell in the past? Remember the time …. Ah, the good old days! I know I …
“Know for certain that God has made him both Master and the Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.” ~Peter
It is clear. There is no room for doubt. We must accept the facts. Jesus is Master. Jesus died, was …
“Everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven.” ~Jesus
Jesus did not come to make our lives easy. Most are enemies of God and his plan. Most days it …
“Love does not insist on its own way.” ~Apostle Paul
The big deal: God doesn’t force Himself on me. He is love and love doesn’t know how to do that. …
Does the new covenant of Jesus bring a new knowledge of God?
The New Covenant was originally given to Israel and includes a promise of fruitfulness, blessing, and a peaceful existence in …
Is work a good thing?
Am I working hard for Jesus? Am I working as hard as the Apostle Paul? Or am I hardly working? …
“It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling.” ~King Solomon
Confession time: I get into arguments sometimes. Not pleasant to admit but it is true. God’s goal for me is …
Why does Jesus the Messiah question the religious elites?
Jesus had lots of questions for the religious elites of his day. He pressed them and would not let them …
“I do not nullify [reject] the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then the Messiah died for no purpose.” ~Apostle Paul
We place a heavy emphasis on “being good”. We hear it all the time. He is a good man or …
Is it important to listen to words of wisdom?
Why this is important: Whenever Jesus says, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear,” He is calling for …
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for shalom [welfare] and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” ~Yahweh [the Lord}
Our God is great God who cares for us. God is good all the time. God has a plan for …
“Although Jesus was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.” ~Author of Hebrews
How do we learn trust and obedience? This is not an answer we want to hear. We learn trust and …
Can we gain insight through meditation on God’s word?
This is instructive. As Philip was traveling to Gaza, the Holy Spirit led him to a man who was reading …
“But that is not the way you learned the Messiah!” ~Apostle Paul
Jesus challenges us to live a completely new life. There is nothing in the old life that is worthy of …
“From the fruit of his mouth a man eats what is good, but the desire of the treacherous is for violence.” ~King Solomon
Wisdom suggests that we have conversations that are helpful. That starts with what is in our heart, continues with what …
“You do not know what tomorrow will bring.” ~Apostle James
I love to plan but do I love to do God’s will? I have great ideas for the future. I …
What is our goal today?
Jesus showed us why we are here. We are like seasoning and salt. We add flavor to the world. We …
“Do not be afraid.” ~Jesus
In the Bible, courage is also called “good cheer” as in Mark 6:50 when Jesus gave the command to the disciples who …
“I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in the Messiah.” ~Apostle Paul
There is a way that Jesus the Messiah challenges us to live. Is it to be haphazard? Is it to …
How do we know we need to pay attention to Jesus?
When we see the word WOE in the scripture, particularly when Jesus uses it, we know we better pay attention. …
What do we hunger and thirst for?
Am I starving for God? Do I have a good appetite for Him? Is all I think of my next …
“Test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.” ~Apostle John
My natural inclination is to trust ministers and the clergy. The Apostle John advises otherwise. He knows that there are …
Should I hire a thief to be my CFO?
Jesus knew before he selected Judas that he would betray him. He knew he was a thief but made him …
Will God give us a new heart and Spirit?
Now here is good news. God can’t see our old heart. God can’t see that we are dirty and need …
“Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?” ~Jesus
First of all, God conceived us in love. That is the starting point and is amazing in and of itself. …
“O Yahweh, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments.” ~Nehemiah
Nehemiah was an amazing man of God. He had a big yes going on in his life. He knew how …
How should we examine ourselves?
I shouldn’t let my faith go on cruise control. The Apostle Paul urges disciples of Jesus to examine themselves. I …
Can we have a pure heart?
God spends a lot of time talking about the heart. God longs for me to have His heart. That is what …
“I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.” ~Apostle Paul
The Apostle Paul was there. He had learned how to be content. He was more than happy. It did not …
How easy will it be to welcome strangers into our homes?
John nails it, as always. John knows it is all about love. How many times does he remind me? …
“I have not come to abolish the Law or the Prophets but to fulfill them.” ~Jesus
Why this is important: Jesus has it all together. All the complexity we see. All we don’t understand. Jesus sees …
Are we being led by the Holy Spirit?
After his baptism, Jesus learned to live, in the present, with the power of the Holy Spirit. He was baptized …
“For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God?” ~Apostle Paul
For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If …
Are we seeing the whole picture?
For we are not writing to you anything other than what you read and understand, and I hope you …
Love is the main thing about the main thing.
Love is not stingy. Love is not miserly. Love is not tightfisted. Love is not grudging. Love is bighearted. Love …
“I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.” ~Jesus
Jesus only does what he hears the Father say to do. That is His standard for us as well. We …
“For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.” ~Apostle Peter
A curious warning is given to us in Peter’s first letter. There he tells us to be ready to give …
How will we live in harmony with one another?
How is it that we persevere? How will we become mature? How will live in harmony? Our will power can …
“Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid. ” ~King Solomon
The first thing is cultivating a love of learning. To be wise means we need to grow. It is not …
“Do not move an ancient landmark or enter the fields of the fatherless, for their Redeemer [Advocate] is strong; he will plead their cause against you.” ~King Solomon
Why this is important: God cares for the poor, the widow, the orphan, the homeless, the sick, those in jail; …
Can we trust the judgement of Jesus?
Jesus can be trusted. Jesus doesn’t have a self-serving bone in His body. Jesus only does what He sees the Father doing. …
“For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.” ~Apostle Paul
Why this is important: This is something to think about. Paul is very strong in what he says. We must …
“Repent and turn away from all your transgressions.” ~God
Repentance (radically changing my mind) is of crucial importance because missing God’s goal (sin) brings God’s judgment. Fellowship with God …
How does God choose leaders?
God shows us how to choose leaders. These are the best principles to apply in all cases, particularly political. Our …
Will others hear us when we proclaim the good news of Jesus?
Jesus is very clear. If someone listens to me, they are listening to Jesus. Jesus grants us His authority. His words …
Does God pour out His Holy Spirit on all flesh?
Joel has a stunning announcement to make. It started manifestation on the day of Pentecost. It continues today. There are …
Who are the witnesses for Jesus?
Jesus has a focus. He isn’t trying to be popular. He wants us to be saved from a life of …
“Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts” ~Apostle Paul
Why this is important: God’s glory is to be my highest motive. God wants me to know that He sees …
Presented to Michael Wiley Wilson by …
I must admit that most of my reading these days isn’t with physical books. I am an avid on-line / …
How many times do we set out for the day without checking on how to get to where God wants us to go?
Why this is important: We are on a great journey. We need a map. We need direction on how to …
Will we let our light shine for Jesus?
We are to be a light. We should bring out God’s colors into the world. God is not a secret …
“God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” ~A Tax Collector
I am sure those who had been with Jesus for a while had a hint of what was about to …
7,927,103,134
Oh, boy, there are SO MANY people on this Earth! Billions and Billions and Billions. This site said there were …
“Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.” ~King Solomon
Why this is important: Conventional wisdom is that there is no reward for a good and honest life. There is …
“Love does not envy or boast.” ~Apostle Paul
We see athletes do it all the time. Strutting their stuff when they do something cool. Subtly we are learning in …
What does King David want to know?
King David asks God a great question. David talks with God all the time and he asks God a lot …
Has God established human agencies for the government of people?
Why this is important: God does not intend for us to live in chaos. That is not the way of …
“For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.” ~Jesus
Many days, I am just following my own whims. Whatever feels good to do right then is fine. No plan. …
“And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness.” ~Apostle Paul
There are many things we work for, and we deserve to be paid for it. Getting paid for what we …
Is our treasure in heaven?
Jesus lays out the principles of the reign [Kingdom of God]. This excerpt is from what is known as the …
“Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” ~Jesus
Jesus is wrapping things up. They have had the last supper and Jesus has laid out the new contract (aka …
Is the purpose of the Holy Spirit to supply spiritual gifts?
It is always good to focus on the why of things. So, why does God pour out on us the …
“Love does not envy or boast.” ~Apostle Paul
How many times do we envy what someone else has? How come they have such a loving family? How come …
What do we do when Jesus says he has something hard but important to say?
When Jesus says he has something hard but important to say I am guessing it is time to pay attention. …
What happens when we live God’s way?
There is my way and there is God’s way. What happens when we live God’s way? Imagine an orchard and …
How do we overcome evil with good?
God is not the author of moral evil; rather, it is His holiness that defines it. Created in God’s image, …
“Inside you are full of greed and wickedness.” ~Jesus
This all came about because Jesus did not wash his hands before he ate. Seriously. This was a huge …
How should we ask God?
Jesus wants us to ask the Father. We should not be shy. In fact, boldness helps. If what we ask …
Is wealth deceitful?
Why this is important: The worry of the world can completely drown out the word of my heavenly Father. Jesus speaks …
Was John the Baptizer filled with the Holy Spirit while still in the womb of his mother?
God fills John with the Holy Spirit while he is still in his mother’s womb and onward throughout his whole …
“But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.” ~King Solomon
Jesus is clear with us. He says “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.” …
Are we learning how to serve the Jesus way?
Where does discontent and depression come from? Is it possible we understand that God wants us to do something and yet have …
Are we immune from suffering?
I am not immune from suffering. Jesus, the very Son of God, suffered. God is clear that as a child …
“Watch yourself.” ~Apostle Paul
We often see danger as lurking outside of us. Here is a sober reminder from Brandon Cox. Something like “I …
“Because of your hardness of heart, he wrote you this commandment.” ~Jesus
Jesus’ habit was to teach about the way God intended things to be. He had a vast number of people …
What kind of work does Jesus have in mind for us?
Jesus sends us out into the world to do God’s work. He knows it isn’t easy. In fact, it is hazardous. …
Does the gift of the Holy Spirit give assurance of acceptance by God?
This is stunning. God has a plan. That plan for us includes the power of the Holy Spirit in our …
How do we combat the culture of materialism we live in?
Greed is very insidious. It creeps into my life, and I don’t recognize it at all some days. I have …
“There is no way to kill a man’s righteousness but by his own consent.” ~John Bunyan
God is passionately in love with us. God’s love is not just an average run of the mill kind of love. …
Are we jumping on others failures when we do the same things?
How do I want to be treated? With respect. With understanding. I like to be given the benefit of the …
Will we rebel or obey?
Why this is important: Jesus is perfectly aligned with His Father, God. That is the source of His power. Jesus challenges …
Does the Holy Spirit give boldness in preaching and witnessing?
Good news: God wants us to be bold in spreading the good news of Jesus. What is His plan? To …
What is the job God has for us to do?
The job at hand: My role is one of a slave. I am a devoted slave of Jesus, the Messiah. Really? …
Is the gift of the Spirit for all believers?
I believe, based on the word of God, that the gift of the Holy Spirit is for all believers. Having …
Are we ready for the harvest?
Jesus knows things we do not. He challenges us to wake up. He looks out and does not just see …
What kind of sacrifice is pleasing to God?
I really meant to, but I just got overwhelmed with everything else on my to do list and all the …
Are we behaving in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity?
Why this is important: Paul depended on Jesus and the Holy Spirit to speak about the Good News. He depended …
“You cannot serve God and money.” ~Jesus
Who will I serve? It is a stunning question. Jesus now explains that behind the choice between two treasures (where I …
“So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of My mouth.” ~Jesus
Powerful message from Francis Chan. Jesus, the Messiah, and our Master, requires one thing. We must be obedient God. That is …
“My speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.” ~Apostle Paul
Why this is important: It is so easy to fall into the trap of thinking we are wise. We study …
“The prayer of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect.” ~Apostle James
What kind of legacy do I want to leave my children? What is the most important thing I can do? …
“Do you want to be healed?” ~Jesus
Jesus can ask us direct and stunning questions. Imagine you have been an invalid and crippled for 38 years. Now …
“If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised the Messiah Jesus from the dead will also give life …” ~Apostle Paul
Imagine this: The Holy Spirit, who raised Jesus from the dead, dwells in us. That is stunning. Consider the power …
Have we become virtual pneumaphobiacs [fear of the Holy Spirit]?
Does your church teach and preach on the power of the Holy Spirit? I have been to some churches where …
Jesus Quotes and God Thoughts 