“If anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness.” ~Apostle Paul
Our friends in Jesus are amazing. We are to look out for our brothers and sisters. Paul presents a hypothetical …
Category Archives: God’s Goal
How much time do I spend jockeying for position with others?
Jesus challenges us to stop being competitive. We are always comparing ourselves with others. It is a serious problem. It …
All I need to do is love others as if my life depends on it.
Oh yes. There are times I felt my life depended on many things. Things don’t love. Things are immaterial to …
“Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.” ~ Jesus
There is no doubt that poverty’s reach is both widespread and devastating. God’s people cannot be indifferent toward those in …
What do I want from God? What should I ask for?
God offered Solomon anything he wanted. He could have anything at all. Now that is amazing. What did Solomon want? …
Am I a student of good?
There are many things we can be students of. Seeking good is God’s goal for us. God wants us to …
Is my heart in it?
Jesus challenges us to have our heart in the right place with God and everyone else. It is all about …
Am I caught up in the wrong priorities?
We get caught up in the wrong things. We don’t have the right priorities. What church do we go to …
Are my prayers just monologues?
I am hoping that God doesn’t feel this way when I pray. I have heard lots of prayers (including my …
Will God lead us in a direction that he won’t give us strength to endure?
Some people don’t get what God is doing. They see His powerful Spirit working in us and are confused about …
Am I working for myself? Who am I working for?
My work is not for myself. My work is for our God. I am a slave to my Master Jesus. …
Are there any “ifs” among the followers of Jesus? Can anything happen?
Jesus summons us to a new level of belief. There are no “ifs” in His world. The new plan he …
Why is Jesus thirsty?
Hanging from the cross. He will die for us. The agony is unbearable. He didn’t say a lot. It was …
Am I a loafer and lazybone?
This is a stunning insight from Solomon. God’s goal for us is that we work. Work is Godly. Work is …
Is my grandeur to forgive and forget?
I need to learn how to hold my tongue. Easier said than done some days. Someone says something and off …
Some things smell pretty bad
Some things smell pretty bad. And then, there is a rotten stench. Just a plain putrid smell. It is disgusting. …
I am bankrupt without love!
This scripture blows me away. There is a question to be asked. Jesus wants to know. What is important? Not …
What is God’s goal for us? Do I get it?
Jesus knew why He was here. He knew how it would end. He knew He would go through the worst …
How should ministries be financially supported?
Jesus sent the disciples out to spread the good news about how God rules. He recognized that they would need …
Are we going to Jerusalem with Jesus?
Jesus destiny was in Jerusalem. God’s goal for Him would come to pass there. He would die and be raised …
Is it reasonable to ask Jesus what I must do to do the works of God in my life?
‘What must we do to do the works God requires?’ A question from the disciples. I look at the question …
Should I beg God?
Jesus said, “Everyone who asks (begs) receives …” Sometimes it takes a lot for us to ask. We think we …
“This is my life work: helping people understand and respond to this Message.” ~Apostle Paul
Paul made tents for a living. It wasn’t how he defined his work. His work was to help people understand …
“Whenever you give to the poor.” ~Jesus
Most disciples of Jesus believe we are to help the poor but how are we to make good judgments on …
“You have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.” ~Apostle Paul
I have to be careful. My nature, along with all of us, is one that is fallen, and I constantly …
“You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine” ~Apostle Paul
I must be careful. It is easy to get confused and stumble around. I have been brought out of slavery …
“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves.” ~Apostle Paul
Jesus calls on me to be humble, gentle and meek. It is a requirement and not optional. Arrogance and all …
“Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” ~Jesus
The mission of the church is to make disciples. Just before Jesus returned to heaven, He commissioned His disciples this …
“When a prophet speaks in the Lord’s name, and the message does not come true or is not fulfilled, that is a message the Lord has not spoken.” ~Moses
I must be careful. There are many who proclaim “thus says the Master”. How can I know if they are …
“Now all the believers were together and held all things in common.” ~Luke
Jesus wants me to focus on the country where Jesus is in charge. That is the Kingdom of God. The …
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” ~Apostle Paul
My mission, given to me by Jesus, is to love. That is it. That should be my day. That should …
“And what I say to you, I say to everyone: Be alert!” ~Jesus
Jesus wants me to know something. Jesus is going to return. It could happen anytime. It is up to God …
“What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Master Jesus.” ~Apostle Paul
Am I ready to die for Jesus? That is a serious question to address. It gets to the core of …
“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in the Messiah Jesus.” ~Apostle Paul
I am so thankful to my Master Jesus, the Messiah. I want to shout. I sing about His greatness. I …
“If the Master wills, we will live and also do this or that.” ~James
Jesus is clear. In his manifesto (Matthew 5-7), Jesus tells us to pray like this: “Your will be done, on …
“No, I tell you; but unless you radically change your mind, you will all perish as well.” ~Jesus
I love to compare myself to others who miss God’s goal for their life (aka sinners). It is embarrassing but …
“Let us do good to all people” ~Apostle Paul
I am to do good to all people. I must be faithful to God’s goal to love my neighbor. I …
“Wise men and women are always learning, always listening for fresh insights.” ~King Solomon
How can I become wise? That is an essential question. I need to figure it out. King Solomon was the …
“Governors as sent by God for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right.” ~Apostle Peter
God is clear. I must recognize that authority comes from God. This is a foundational principle. I am challenged by …
“A man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in the Messiah Jesus” ~Apostle Paul
I fall into the trap of thinking that if I just follow the rules, I will be seen as good …
“Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.” ~Apostle Matthew
I am a disciple of Jesus. That means I must learn from Jesus. Jesus was one a mission to preach …
“Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” ~Jesus
My mission, given to me by God, is to love. In order to love, I need to learn how to …
“Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” ~James
God is good. God is good all the time. I struggle with temptation. I know all followers of our Master …
“Make sure there’s no unnatural unbelief lying around that will trip you up and throw you off course, diverting you from the living God.” ~Author of Hebrews
The past is an interesting diversion. And a diversion it is. It can lead to an unnatural reliance on a …
“Through Jesus we received both the generous gift of his life and the urgent task of passing it on to others who receive it by entering into obedient trust in Jesus.” ~Apostle Paul
I have been given an assignment. God has things he wants me to do. Some of that got started with …
“Learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” ~Jesus
Jesus calls on me to learn. ”Disciple” means to learn. I am to learn from Jesus. Jesus is my Master. …
“So if you find life difficult because you’re doing what God said, take it in stride. Trust him. He knows what he’s doing, and he’ll keep on doing it.” ~Apostle Peter
Life does seem difficult some days. The key question is “Am I doing what God said”? If so, I should …
“Be on your guard against the yeast of the religious elites, which is hypocrisy” ~Jesus
Jesus warns me about hypocrisy. It is a serious problem. Being a religious elite leads to all kinds of errors. …
“Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, And which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him.” ~ Apostle Paul
We seem a little reluctant to talk about the ecstatic experience. Is that for mystics and weirdo’s, I think? I …
“A meal of bread and water in contented peace is better than a banquet spiced with quarrels” ~King Solomon
There is something about enjoying a peaceful meal. It can be alone or with families and friends. I come away …
“Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly, arguing and persuading them about the kingdom of God.” ~Luke
I need to speak boldly. I need to speak boldly every day. I need to argue and persuade as many …
“Jesus will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” ~John the Baptizer
Baptism is a big deal for a disciple of Jesus. I was baptized at a very young age and it …
“If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private.” ~Jesus
We all miss God’s goal for our lives. I certainly do. Sometimes that is obvious to other brothers and sisters …
“Give us help for the hard task; human help is worthless. In God we’ll do our very best; he’ll flatten the opposition for good.” ~ King David
I love it when friends help. It is always a blessing. But there is always a limit to what can …
“Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.” ~Apostle Paul
It is easy to get frustrated some days. I believe I am proclaiming the message of Jesus. Not everyone is …
“After looking around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart!” ~Jesus
I need to be careful. It is way too easy to fall into the religious rule and legalism trap. The …
“With the pure You show Yourself pure, and with the crooked You show Yourself astute.” ~King David
God is pure and holy. There is nothing about God that is false at all. There is no evil in …
“The Sovereign Master has opened my ears; I have not been rebellious, I have not turned away. I offered my back to those who beat me” ~Isaiah about Jesus
I have a lot to learn about obedience. I have a great teacher in Jesus the Messiah. As a disciple, …
“Moses wrote this command for you because of the hardness of your hearts.” ~Jesus
Jesus has some things He wants me to know. They are somewhat essential as they deal with our basic human …
“It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that the Messiah Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.” ~Apostle Paul
I am always looking for trustworthy statements. They get my attention. I have missed God’s goal for my life (aka …
“Paul reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath and tried to persuade both Jews and Greeks.” ~Luke
I must be persistent and faithful. I must reason with others every chance I get. My job is to persuade …
“Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.” ~Apostle Peter
I am a person who believes in God and the work of His Son Jesus. We are a people of …
“Now go; I’m sending you out like lambs among wolves.” ~Jesus
Jesus gives me a mission. Jesus is sending me to proclaim the good news. I am very excited. This is …
“Fools speak foolishness and make evil plans” ~Isaiah
God has a plan for my life. I need to focus on what that plan is and doing it. Anything …
“These men who have turned the world upside down have come here too.” Thessalonian city officials
I need to stay focused on the essential message of the good news of Jesus. Paul understood that and shows …
“Carelessly call a brother ‘idiot!’ and you just might find yourself hauled into court.” ~Jesus
Jesus is clear what love looks like. My words need to reflect His love in me. This is a core …
“Whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.” ~Jesus
When I was a young man, we used the phrase “just suck it up”. We used it a lot. We …
“Let us leave the elementary teaching about the Messiah and go on to maturity” ~Author of Hebrews
I want to be mature. I don’t want to be a baby. I want to grow up and be an …
“Children, be obedient to your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Master.” ~Apostle Paul
I have a job. It is to be obedient to my parents. There was a point in time where that …
“No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” ~Jesus
I want to follow Jesus. Am I ready for what it takes? Have I counted the cost and now prepared …
“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in the Messiah also has forgiven you.” ~Apostle Paul
God’s goal for me is to be kind, thoughtful and caring. I am to love. That is the main thing …
“So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.” ~Luke
Do people speak highly of me as a disciple? Does it matter? My job is to please God. That should …
“We have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.” ~Apostle Paul
I have a goal. It is given to me by God. I must focus on pleasing God. Jesus leads the …
“What comes out of a person is what defiles him.” ~Jesus
It is very difficult for me to see what is in my heart. I’ve hidden my faults from myself. My …
“Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” ~Jesus
The Jesus Manifesto (Matthew 5-7) continues with Jesus teaching us how to pray. I must learn how to forgive. How …
“We have a great deal to say about this, and it is difficult to explain, since you have become too lazy to understand.” ~Author of Hebrews
Uh oh! Am I too lazy to learn? This is something to take seriously. Learning is a lot of work. …
“It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’ ” ~Jesus
I want life. It is important. I know it is. How will I get life? Our Master’s experience of temptation …
“And many others who were supporting them (Jesus and the disciples) from their possessions.” ~Luke
I have an obligation to support ministries that are spreading the good news of Jesus and making disciples. I don’t …
“If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him.” ~Jesus
I will admit it. I have evil desires. There is evil in my heart. Evil is a lack of goodness. …
“Intelligent children listen to their parents; foolish children do their own thing.” ~King Solomon
I learned this the hard way with my dad. There was a period of time I thought he was an …
“Work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” ~Apostle Paul
Jesus calls on me to love. That requires that I do good deeds. We not only share God’s grace, but …
“Why don’t your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders?” ~Religious elites
I think I underestimate how much of a legalist I am. Let’s add to that a pious religious elitist. It …
“Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have.” ~Author of Hebrews
We live in a extremely materialist culture. Money has become an idol and much is measured by how much of …
“Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting.” ~Jesus
Jesus is clear in that He says, “whenever you fast …” It seems like Jesus expected we would. Scripture does …
“Since the promise to enter God’s rest remains, let us beware that none of you be found to have fallen short.” ~Author of Hebrews
I don’t want to fall short. I have received the good news. I have received a promise from Jesus that …
“Hard times will come in the last days. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, … lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to the form of godliness but denying its power. Avoid these people.” ~Apostle Paul
I have to be careful. Materialistic seduction can happen. I live in America and that is clear. If materialism was …
“Better to be poor and honest than a rich person no one can trust.” ~King Solomon
The pursuit of possessions and wealth and a preoccupation with physical things is futile and dissatisfying. Materialism is defined as “the …
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.” ~Apostle Paul
The secret to unity begins with how I view myself within the body of Jesus and how I view others. …
“This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome” ~Apostle John
Jesus the Messiah accepted the authority of the OT law and saw himself as coming to fulfil its purpose. God’s …
“Then Jesus opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.” ~Luke
Insight is the spiritual quality that enables a person to appreciate God’s mind and will in matters of behavior, truth …
“Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.” ~Apostle Paul
My speech has an enormous influence for good or ill and is a sure guide to character. The power of …
“How can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elements? Do you want to be enslaved to them all over again?” Apostle Paul
Will I turn my back on grace and return to religious rules, regulations and a legalistic culture? What will happen …
“Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” ~Jesus
Jesus is clear. I am to ask. He says, ask and you will receive. I am to ask in His …
“About that time there occurred no small disturbance concerning the Way.” ~Luke
Am I a follower of the Way of Jesus? Do I see myself as a follower of the Way, a …
“If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need, but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?” ~Apostle John
The simple answer is because God says so. That is it. It is that simple. Jesus commands that I must …
“The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” ~Jesus
I get how difficult it is to predict where the wind is going to blow. I live in Texas and …
“Pray for those who persecute you.” ~Jesus
I can trust God. While others may betray me, God will not. God is to be trusted. Now that is …
“Foxes have dens, and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” ~Jesus
The Bible acknowledges the fact of homelessness and instructs us to help those who are poor and needy, including those …
“There are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the good news of the Messiah.” ~Apostle Paul
I must be careful. It is easy to get confused and stumble around. I have been brought out of slavery …
“Now the works of the flesh are obvious: … strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, and anything similar. I am warning you that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” ~Apostle Paul
I get jealous. I get angry. One can lead to the other. The parable of the prodigal son is a …
