Goodness — Good Works will be Rewarded
In Galatians 5:22-23, Paul lists the “fruit of the Spirit”. “Fruit,” here, means “beneficial results,” the good things that come …
In Galatians 5:22-23, Paul lists the “fruit of the Spirit”. “Fruit,” here, means “beneficial results,” the good things that come …
The religious leaders wanted to kill Jesus. They would. The religious elites just didn’t want people to be upset about …
There is a lot being said, by “leaders”, about being servant leaders. I have a friend that has written a …
Jesus is about to wrap His Manifesto. There is one final parable to lay it all out. There is a contrast …
God is God. No one else is. God alone is in control. God is Great and God is Good. I …
Material goods can turn my heart away from God. The pursuit of possessions and wealth and a preoccupation with physical things …
Friendship is an amazing experience. It also can be a fragile relationship. Am I looking at the good in my …
My role is one of a slave. I am a devoted slave of Jesus, the Messiah. Really? Yes, a slave. …
Jesus the Messiah’s beauty, radiance and splendor reflects the glory of the Father. It is both revealed to and reflected …
Jesus rejoiced. Jesus is exuberant in the Holy Spirit. Jesus came to usher in the Kingdom of God in the …
One of the proofs of God’s working in my life is the ability to control my own thoughts, words, and …
God is God and God is great. God empowered his son Jesus. There are so many amazing and supernatural acts …
I want to please God, my heavenly Father. That is my heart’s desire. It takes sacrifice on my part. It …
Am I a master at making myself look good? What Jesus has to say to the religious elites (aka Pharisees) …
We hear Jesus Christ all the time. Sometimes it is even said in a profane way. So, is it the …
What gives Jesus the right to speak and act on his Father’s behalf in forgiving sin, pronouncing judgment and promising …
Goodness and good works are acts designed specifically to benefit others, which are characteristic of God. I can be good …
A Nobel peace laureate, Mother Teresa (1910–1997) was an Albanian-Indian Roman Catholic nun and missionary. For much of her life, Mother …
Jesus continues the Manifesto. Jesus is teaching me how to pray. After the model prayer, Jesus emphasizes the importance of …
I need to see how much God cares. It is just who He is. I don’t need to look around. …
This is stunning. As disciples of Jesus, we are the chief objects of God’s fatherly love. I become God’s child …
I am not immune to competing for my spiritual faction (aka denomination). I think it is best. I think Jesus …
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there …
I want mercy in my life. Compassion is a wonderful gift from God. I am challenged by Jesus to replicate …
Jesus the Messiah’s life was lived under the shadow of the cross. He was concerned that people should understand his …
This is stunning. As disciples of Jesus, we are the chief objects of God’s fatherly love. We become God’s children …
I wander off. I am wayward. I drift. It happens. It happens to others I know. What is my attitude? …
Do you believe in hell? It is interesting that a much higher percentage of people believe in the existence of …
Am I a doubter? If I am honest, yes, there are times I doubt. So did some of the 11 …
What gives Jesus the right to speak and act on his Father’s behalf in forgiving sin, pronouncing judgment and promising …
It is none of my business. That is the stunning message from Jesus that He wants me to know. I …
The Holy Spirit brings joy to believers, giving them an inner contentment and happiness which is not dependent upon external …
There are so many amazing and supernatural acts of Jesus, revealing and confirming his Messianic credentials, and the coming of …
Jesus, the Son of God, is the Messiah. God sent him to live among us, die for our missing God’s …
I am thinking this part of the Jesus Manifesto has been ripped out of most Evangelical and Protestant bibles. I …
How am I doing with being selfless on behalf of others? It is a pretty telling question if I answer it …
Greed is very insidious. It creeps into my life and I don’t recognize it at all some days. I have …
It is stunning how skillfully our Master Jesus, the Messiah, uses questions (read more here) to teach vital spiritual truths. …
I need to find more hope. God is good and in a good mood. Justice, while lacking here some days, …
John saw it with his own eyes. Imagine that. John was there for the transfiguration. John saw the glory of …
This is stunning. As disciples of Jesus, we are the chief objects of God’s fatherly love. We become God’s children …
In Galatians 5:22 we learn that “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 …
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there …
Justice is a term used for what is right or “as it should be.” Justice is one of God’s attributes …
Jesus continues His Manifesto (aka The Sermon on the Mount). Jesus is getting close to wrapping it up. Jesus doesn’t …
This is the third time Jesus appears to the disciples. They’ve been out fishing all night. They’ve been working. They …
Jesus has some goals in mind for me. Jesus is clear what they are. Jesus warns me that there will …
The Jesus Manifest continues (Matthew 5-7). This is a critical teaching of Jesus. What should I think about money and …
What gives Jesus the right to speak and act on his Father’s behalf in forgiving sin, pronouncing judgment and promising …
Jesus sounds upset. The day before he went through an amazing experience. We call it the transfiguration. “While He was praying, the …
Joy is experienced naturally in many circumstances of my life in Jesus and most importantly in relationships I have with …
This is very common. I don’t think of it that way naturally but it is when you start looking below …
Jesus came to complete every task God, His Father, had laid out for Him. Jesus, earlier (John 5:38) had said …
The backdrop to this is the feeding of the five thousand. It is a truly stunning miracle. Jesus was moved …
Jesus, the Son of God, is the Messiah. God sent him to live among us, die for our missing God’s …
How am I doing with being selfless on behalf of others? It is a pretty telling question if I answer …
Who is the King of Glory? King David is a warrior King. He spent much of his life fighting to …
Did you lock the doors? That was the compelling question the morning Jesus rose from the dead in an incorruptible …
There have been way too many times I have ignored getting some rest. I worked too many days in a …
There are times I am clearly not at peace. I am not at peace with myself and I am not …
Jesus is a kind, loving King. Jesus is not angry with me. Jesus wants me to be kind and gentle. …
Here we are. It is “Resurrection Sunday”. I’m celebrating the resurrection of Jesus not bunnies and chocolate candy. That’s just …
Good Friday, also known as “Holy Friday,” is the Friday immediately preceding Resurrection Sunday. It is celebrated traditionally as the day …
Judas betrays Jesus. Peter and the others deny they know Jesus. Nobody is with Jesus at the end. I am …
Holy Tuesday is is a busy day. Many chapters of the Gospels are devoted to it.(Matthew 21:23—23:39; Mark 11:27—12:44; Luke 20:1—21:4). Here …
What should followers of Jesus think about justice and the social justice movement? “If we take the Bible seriously then …
Some of the religious leaders [Pharisees] in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.” But Jesus answered, “I …
Jesus told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: “Two men went up …
Pilate said, “Do I look like a Jew? Your people and your high priests turned you over to me. What …
“Calling the crowd to join his disciples, Jesus said, “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me …
“Here’s the story I’ll tell my friends when they come to worship, and punctuate it with Hallelujahs: God has never let you …
There are so many stunning, amazing and supernatural acts of Jesus. They reveal and confirm his Messianic credentials. They announce …
Jesus says “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” The commendation of peacemakers – It …
Hypocrisy is an outward pretense masking an inner reality. Jesus condemns hypocrisy, especially in matters of faith. Followers of Jesus …
Jesus had a lot to say about the homeless, wealth, prosperity, poverty, riches, the poor, the needy and giving. Here …
Then Jesus looked up at his disciples and said: “Happy are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom …
This is a series of quotes to emphasize the seriousness of deception and our responsibility to look out for it …
“When the ten others heard about this, they lost their tempers, thoroughly disgusted with the two brothers. So Jesus got …
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who …
The Apostle Paul lays out a basic premise of The Way (της οδου). We are children of God and more …
Prefer my life-disciplines over chasing after money, and God-knowledge over a lucrative career. For Wisdom is better than all the …
If you love me, show it by doing what I’ve told you. I will talk to the Father, and he’ll …
Am I clever? I like to think I am some days. So did the Sadducess (Religious Leaders). They thought they …
Don’t just go shopping for a god. Gods are not for sale. I swear I’ll never treat god-names like brand-names. …
How far must I go in following Jesus? I need to do whatever it takes. Nothing is more important than …
How many times have I thought, this is all about heaven? A lot I am thinking. I am reminded of …
Jesus is clear. Jesus doesn’t have to answer my questions. That is shocking to me. I deserve to have my …
Jesus knows that nothing is impossible with God. It is in his heart, he believes it, he thinks about it …
Should I judge others? Jesus is clear. I have plenty of my own issues. I should look in the mirror …
How much of what I do “for Jesus” is done to be seen by others? Probably too much. Jesus is …
Happy (aka Blessed) are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” ~Jesus Source: Matthew 5:3 (English Standard Version) …
Jesus performs amazing miracles. The power of God is in him in a mighty way. Right before this, he raised …
Panic over money is greed’s cousin. I have panicked. I don’t know what to do. Am I content with what …
Jesus is always clear and direct. I can count on that. Jesus isn’t going to sugar coat the message he …
Discipline is very tough and at the time it is tough to appreciate. My heavenly Father disciplines me because he …
Who gets to know about God, Lord of heaven and earth? Who is God revealing himself to? It is the …
Jesus intends for us to have great relationships with people in our world. That is His goal for us. Jesus …
Justice is a tricky thing. For many it is befuddling and confusing. They are seeking justice here in our country. …
Jesus is clear. There will be a day of judgement. We may prefer to believe it isn’t true but it …
Jesus is on a mission. His Father has given Him very specific tasks to complete as a part of God’s …