What is the alternative to hypocrisy?
There is a really big deal here. Deceit is defined as “the action or practice of deceiving someone by …
Tag Archives: Truth
“The Spirit makes it clear that as time goes on, some are going to give up on the faith and chase after demonic illusions put forth by professional liars.” ~Apostle Paul
I don’t like to think about it. I prefer to ignore liars. They didn’t mean it, I think. Jesus is …
Jesus won’t let us down. No way. He will change us. He will clean us up. He will be true to His word. Now that is some good news.
I can’t claim I haven’t missed God’s goal for my life. None of us can. We are sinners. That is …
“He who has received His testimony has set his seal to this, that God is true.” ~Jesus
Consider this: Truth is not what makes people feel good. Jesus knows this. Jesus knows truth because He knows the Father …
“Jesus died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.” ~Apostle Paul
Jesus is my substitute for having to pay a penalty for having missed God’s goal. Jesus tasted death for me …
Truth — Is it reality and is it found in Jesus?
The new covenant encompasses the Greek idea of truth as reality, as well as the Hebraic concepts of faithfulness and …
“Get ready for trouble.” ~Jesus
There is a time to get prepared. That time is when trouble is on the way. I must listen and …
“I have not come to call the righteous but those who miss God’s goal to radically change their thinking.” ~Jesus
Jesus challenges me to radically change my way of thinking. Repentance (the original Greek means radically changing my thinking) is of central …
31 Questions that Jesus Asks in the Good News According to Luke
It is stunning how masterfully our Master Jesus, the Messiah, uses questions (read more here) to teach vital spiritual truths. …
“Lots of people claim to be loyal and loving, but where on earth can you find one?” ~King Solomon
Where is the loyalty? Where is the love? Doesn’t anyone care? God is loyal and God is loving. I can …
“But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?” ~Apostle John
Jesus is clear. His apostle John is clear. My heart testifies to me what I ought to do. There …
“Lazarus died. And I am glad for your sakes that I wasn’t there. You’re about to be given new grounds for believing.” ~Jesus
Here I see the care and compassion of my Master. It appeared somewhat callous to begin with. Lazarus is sick. …
Despite all the love … refusing to know God
This sad. It breaks God’s heart. There are a lot of people who simply refuse to know God. Despite all …
“Encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.” ~Apostle Paul
Can I be gentle in caring for the weak? Every person is powerful. I can speak words that influence others. …
“Sky and earth will wear out; my words won’t wear out.” ~Jesus
What does Jesus say? I know what He says. I can read His words. I can study them. I can …
“Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.” ~Jesus
Jesus has just finished talking about not judging and hypocrisy in the Jesus Manifesto. At first sight and hearing, this is …
What is God’s response to those who reject Him and His Son Jesus?
The godless have abandoned God. They have rejected God. I see it everywhere. You see it as well. It seems …
Toleration — It should be exercised for the benefit of those whose faith is weak
How toleration of other believers should I be? Even when disputing/dialoguing over prominent doctrines, a disciple of Jesus should exercise …
“Happy are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad!” ~Jesus
How did Jesus expect me to react under persecution? Rejoice and be glad! That is right. I’m jump up and down for …
“You can see now how it is written that the Messiah suffers, rises from the dead on the third day.“ ~Jesus
Scripture presents conclusive evidence that Jesus the Messiah was in fact resurrected from the dead to an incorruptible body. The …
Authority — Without it sin is Unrestrained
According to the Bible, human and governmental authority ought to be submitted to and respected. This is a hard teaching …
Respect — It leads to Godly living
The apostle Peter summarizes the Bible’s teaching on respect in his first Epistle. My mission is clear. Show proper respect …
“Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.” ~Martin Luther King, Jr.
Freedom is fought for, not given freely. Freedom must be stood up for. Freedom may send us to jail. Freedom …
“Happy are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” ~Jesus
Is my heart pure? That is an essential issue to address. Jesus lays it out in His manifesto (Matthew 5 — …
Holy — Becoming holy involves striving after God
The holiness of God is the most difficult of all God’s attributes to explain, partly because it is one of …
“For their sakes I sanctify (set apart as holy) Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified (set apart as holy) in truth.” ~Jesus
I avoid some things because they sound very geeky and smack of theology. Jesus talks about sanctification. Maybe I need …
Prophet — Jesus is the Rejected Prophet of God
God had told Moses that someday He would send another prophet to Israel, “and I will put my words in …
Truth — As Opposed to Falsehood and Lies
Truth as opposed to falsehood and lies. Truth may be used to convey a sense of being in accordance with fact …
Discipleship – Joy is a Benefit and Results from Being a Disciple
Joy is closely related to gladness and happiness, although joy is more a state of being than an emotion; a …
Denial of Jesus — The Jewish People Rejected Jesus
Denial is the making of a conscious, informed decision not to accept Jesus as the Messiah or his claims and …
“Be very careful. Keep a sharp eye out for the contaminating yeast of the Baptist, Methodist, Episcopals, Lutherans or the Catholics. Also the yeast of Obama, Cruz, Sanders, Clinton or Trump.” ~Jesus
This is a special message for our current toxic political and religious environment. Jesus has something to say about all …
Atonement — The Purpose of Jesus the Messiah’s death on Behalf of Others
The dictionary definition of atonement is satisfaction or reparation for a wrong or injury or making amends. Jesus has paid the …
Hell — The reality of hell should affect the way people live. — The importance of making the right choice.
Can I choose not to go to hell? The punishment of the wicked in hell is as never ending as the …
Repentance — God Calls us to Radically Change our Thinking
Repentance (radically changing my thinking) is of central importance because missing God’s goal (sin) brings God’s judgment. Fellowship with God …
Mercifulness — God Shows it to us as He is Merciful
Mercifulness is an attitude of compassion and care, grounded in the nature of God himself, made manifest in the life …
Heart — Assurance Through Inward Experiences of the Renewed Heart
Jesus calls on me to be pure of heart. I need need His regenerating Spirit and the blood of His …
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 …
Gentleness — In Caring for the Weak
Human power under human control is a half-broken weapon in the hands of a child. But gentleness places my strength …
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” ~Jesus
Jesus is about to wrap His Manifesto. There is one final parable to lay it all out. There is a contrast …
“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.” ~Jesus
God is God. No one else is. God alone is in control. God is Great and God is Good. I …
Glory — It Existed in Jesus the Messiah Before His Incarnation
Jesus the Messiah’s beauty, radiance and splendor reflects the glory of the Father. It is both revealed to and reflected …
“In Jesus you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority.” ~Apostle Paul
What gives Jesus the right to speak and act on his Father’s behalf in forgiving sin, pronouncing judgment and promising …
Patience — God is our Model for Patience
Who is my model for patience? God is patient, and His Spirit produces the fruit of patience in me. When I …
“Hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” ~Apostle Paul
Am I wrong to hope? Now this is amazing. I am not disappointed when I hope. In my hope, I …
“Humans are satisfied with whatever looks good; God probes for what is good.” ~King Solomon
God acts from the highest, purest motives. God expects me to do the same. Humans are satisfied with whatever looks …
Faithfulness — The Proper Response to God by His Covenant People
Faithfulness is the proper response to God by his covenant people. It is seen in a steadfast commitment which reflects …
25 Questions that Jesus Asks in the Good News According to Mark
Jesus Questions Jesus has some questions for me. I need to answer them and not ignore Him. It is stunning …
Sanctification — It is the Work of the Holy Spirit
I avoid some things because they sound very geeky and smack of theology. Jesus talks about sanctification. Maybe I need …
“Jesus sets out the evidence of what he saw and heard in heaven.” ~John the Baptizer
I am not immune to competing for my spiritual faction (aka denomination). I think it is best. I think Jesus …
Self-control — It Affects the Whole Person Including Physical Self-control
Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit. It is physical and emotional self-mastery, particularly in situations of intense provocation or temptation. It …
Wisdom — Understanding God’s Word
I need wisdom. I need understanding. Wisdom and understanding is a God-given perception. With it, I can see the nature …
“Happy are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.” ~Jesus
I want mercy in my life. Compassion is a wonderful gift from God. I am challenged by Jesus to replicate …
Slave — Am I a Slave or a Servant? Does it Matter?
“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave (dŏulŏs) above his master. It is enough for the disciple that he become …
“Take it from me: Unless a person is born from above, it’s not possible to see what I’m pointing to—to God’s kingdom.” ~Jesus
This is stunning. As disciples of Jesus, we are the chief objects of God’s fatherly love. We become God’s children …
“No one is going to eat fruit from you again—ever!” ~Jesus
Why in the world would Jesus curse the fig tree? What was He up to? This happened during the week …
The authority of Jesus — It is limited by the Father
What gives Jesus the right to speak and act on his Father’s behalf in forgiving sin, pronouncing judgment and promising …
Hypocrisy — Its Expression through Insincere Motives
Hypocrisy is an outward pretense masking an inner reality. Jesus condemns hypocrisy, especially in matters of faith. As a follower …
False Doctrine — Is it of human origin and not from Jesus the Messiah?
Jesus, the Son of God, is the Messiah. God sent him to live among us, die for our missing God’s …
Faithfulness — Is seen as steadfast commitment to God in unwavering devotion
Faithfulness is the proper response to God by his covenant people; seen in a steadfast commitment which reflects God’s own …
44 Questions that Jesus Asks in the Good News According to Matthew
It is stunning how skillfully our Master Jesus, the Messiah, uses questions (read more here) to teach vital spiritual truths. …
Can I hope based on scripture as the word of God?
I need to find more hope. God is good and in a good mood. Justice, while lacking here some days, …
Children of God — We become children by new birth
This is stunning. As disciples of Jesus, we are the chief objects of God’s fatherly love. We become God’s children …
“Then he will turn to the ‘goats,’ the ones on his left, and say, ‘Get out, worthless goats! You’re good for nothing but the fires of hell. And why?” ~Jesus
Jesus has some goals in mind for me. Jesus is clear what they are. Jesus warns me that there will …
Authority of Jesus the Messiah — Jesus’ authority underlines his divine status
What gives Jesus the right to speak and act on his Father’s behalf in forgiving sin, pronouncing judgment and promising …
“Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life.” ~King David
This translation is from The Message. We all recognize Psalm 23. The traditional translation of verse 6 is “Surely goodness and …
“Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.” ~Jesus
The backdrop to this is the feeding of the five thousand. It is a truly stunning miracle. Jesus was moved …
“Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.” ~Jesus
Jesus warns us in Matthew 7 where we hear Him say “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s …
“The more talk, the less truth; the wise measure their words.” ~King Solomon
We all know people who have something to say about everything. Is this me? Is this you? Think about it. …
False Doctrine — It contradicts the good news of Jesus the Messiah
Jesus, the Son of God, is the Messiah. God sent him to live among us, die for our missing God’s …
Meekness — Examples in the life of Jesus
Jesus is clear that I will be more than happy if I am meek and gentle. I will in fact …
Goodness — God’s people are called on to do good works
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? The Lord strong and mighty, The Lord mighty in battle.” ~King David
Who is the King of Glory? King David is a warrior King. He spent much of his life fighting to …
“The one who listens to you, listens to me. The one who rejects you, rejects me. And rejecting me is the same as rejecting God, who sent me.” ~Jesus
What am I to do? It all starts with listening. From there, as a follower of Jesus, I am to …
Peace — It is established in a believer’s relationship with the Father and Jesus
There are times I am clearly not at peace. I am not at peace with myself and I am not …
“Peace be with you!” ~Jesus
Here we are. It is “Resurrection Sunday”. I’m celebrating the resurrection of Jesus not bunnies and chocolate candy. That’s just …
“Easter says you can put truth in the grave but it won’t stay there.” ~~Clarence W. Hall
Jesus is risen. Hallelujah! Easter says you can put truth in the grave but it won’t stay there. ~~Clarence W. …
Is love optional?
Is love optional? Yes, I get to decide whether to love or not. So do you. I often am not …
“Truly I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” ~Jesus to Peter
Judas betrays Jesus. Peter and the others deny they know Jesus. Nobody is with Jesus at the end. I am …
“Nor will I tell you by what authority I do these things.” ~Jesus
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 …
“I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!” ~Jesus to the religious leaders
Some of the religious leaders [Pharisees] in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.” But Jesus answered, “I …
“Happy are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” ~Jesus
“Happy (aka Blessed) are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” ~Jesus Source: Matthew 5:9 (NASB) Jesus continues on with his …
“At the center of nonviolence stands the principle of love.” ~Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King’s rationale for love and nonviolence was an attempt to follow in the steps of Jesus. Throughout his …
“We’re not keeping secrets; we’re telling them. We’re not hiding things; we’re bringing everything out into the open.” ~Jesus
“No one lights a lamp and then covers it with a washtub or shoves it under the bed. No, you set …
“God has never let you down, never looked the other way when you were being kicked around.” ~King David
“Here’s the story I’ll tell my friends when they come to worship, and punctuate it with Hallelujahs: God has never let you …
What is peace, how do we make peacemaking real and what is the promise of Jesus?
Jesus says “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” The commendation of peacemakers – It …
“These two commands are pegs; everything in God’s Law and the Prophets hangs from them.” ~Jesus
“When the Pharisees heard how he had bested the Sadducees, they gathered their forces for an assault. One of their …
God is Good – Would that explain why God is in a good mood and does good? God is good y’all!
All God’s perfect qualities are made freely available to all for the benefit of the whole world. God is good. …
Hypocrisy – What it is, why it is evil and hated by Jesus
Hypocrisy is an outward pretense masking an inner reality. Jesus condemns hypocrisy, especially in matters of faith. Followers of Jesus …
“Why are you looking for the Living One in a cemetery? He is not here, but raised up.” ~Angels about Jesus
“They were puzzled, wondering what to make of this. Then, out of nowhere it seemed, two men, light cascading over …
Everything Jesus had to say about the homeless, wealth, prosperity, poverty, riches, the poor, the needy and giving
Jesus had a lot to say about the homeless, wealth, prosperity, poverty, riches, the poor, the needy and giving. Here …
“Beware … ” ~Jesus — What the New Testament has to say on deception by religions leaders
This is a series of quotes to emphasize the seriousness of deception and our responsibility to look out for it …
“I also know your insides are maggoty with greed and secret evil.” ~Jesus
When he finished that talk, a Pharisee asked him to dinner. He entered his house and sat right down at …
“For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders.” ~Jesus
For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders.” ~Jesus Source: Matthew 15:19 (NASB) Evil is real. Evil …
“The ways of right-living people glow with light; the longer they live, the brighter they shine.” ~King Solomon
The ways of right-living people glow with light; the longer they live, the brighter they shine. But the road of …
“If you love me, show it by doing what I’ve told you.” ~Jesus
If you love me, show it by doing what I’ve told you. I will talk to the Father, and he’ll …
“For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” ~Jesus
So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. “Enter …
“You’re way off base, and here’s why: One, you don’t know your Bibles; two, you don’t know how God works.” ~Jesus
Am I clever? I like to think I am some days. So did the Sadducess (Religious Leaders). They thought they …
“Dear friend, when you extend hospitality to Christian brothers and sisters, even when they are strangers, you make the faith visible.” ~Apostle John
John nails it, as always. John knows it is all about love. How many times does he remind me? Constantly. …
“Why, then, do you think this was written?” ~Jesus
Jesus was constantly getting under the skin of the religious leaders and scholars. At the conclusion of the story Jesus …
“If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” ~Jesus
So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are …
