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In The Last Hours of His Life, Jesus Prayed for YOU. Think About That

We just finished devotionals from every book in the Bible. Amazingly enough, though written by many authors over such a long period of time, it contains a consistent narrative about God’s plan to bless and redeem mankind. It tells the story of believers who hoped and prayed for a coming Messiah, and it reveals Jesus as God’s Son. It portrays him as the Redeemer who came to offer himself as a…

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If You Consecrate Yourself TODAY, You'll Have Amazing Results TOMORROW

“Consecrate yourself” is a phrase you don’t hear every day. (In fact, you may have lived your entire life without even considering it!) You might say “help yourself”, or “watch yourself”, and you may have heard Archie Bunker say “stifle yourself!” to Edith, but he never said, “Consecrate yourself, Edith!” So, I’m curious. Have YOU ever consecrated yourself? How did you do it? What happened? And,…

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God's Standards Set the Bar: How Do We Compare to Them, America?

Last year, Louisiana made the news by requiring that the Ten Commandments be displayed in every classroom in their schools. It is a standard that will undoubtedly be challenged in a court of law (somewhat ironic since it concerns the law, and someone will be trying to use the law to challenge a display and reminder about the law…) The Old Testament had a lot to say about the Law. There were…

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America, What Would Jesus Say to Us if He Came Back Today?

He wasn’t who they expected him to be. He said things they didn’t expect him to say. In a dramatic passage from the Book of Revelation, John described Jesus as the Alpha and Omega and the King of Kings; but let’s not forget that he had a very different role when he first came to earth. Isaiah 53 portrays a man who was rejected and spurned by the very people he came to save. While he was here on…

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Revenge, Well Done

“Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In…

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The True King of Kings: Don't Bow Down to ANYONE Else!

(This is Day Seventy or So of Reading through the ENTIRE BIBLE!) In case you haven’t noticed, back in March we started in Genesis, and have done our daily devotional through every book of the Bible. We took more than 66 days to cover the 66 Books of the Bible, since we covered a few things between the Testaments, and had a couple of bonus entries. But over the last two and a half months, we have…

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Don't Just Complain That You Coulda Been a Contender. CONTEND!

In the movie “On the Waterfront”, Marlon Brando’s character (a boxer from the poor side of town) laments that he didn’t contend as well as he should have. The guy was a wanna-be champion who had unrealized potential. Swept along by events, he made some bad choices and never made it to the top. As he reflects regretfully about the way his life turned out, his words deliver body blows. “I coulda…

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A Famous Man Who Was Famous for All the Wrong Reasons

Here in America, we think being famous is cool. We watch TMZ or read People Magazine to keep up with all the “stars”. We get all gaga if we meet Lady Gaga or somebody else that’s famous, and if we were honest, a lot of us would love to BE famous. Andy Warhol said over FORTY YEARS AGO, that with the advent of media technology, “In the future, everybody is going to be world-famous for fifteen…

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According to John, Obedience Equals Love. So, What Does LOVE Equal?

The Second Epistle of John is a short letter, full of interesting possibilities. He wrote it to one of his oldest surviving friends, and it’s someone who may surprise you. (It surprised ME!) In his letter, he offered some fascinating advice about love and obedience, and it might even connect some dots in Scripture for a story you may know. “It has given me great joy to find some of your children…

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Since You're a Citizen, What Are Your Inalienable Rights/

We all took social studies somewhere along the line, and we learned about citizenship. On this day we focus on political citizenship, and it’s certainly a hot topic right now in our Divided States of America. (I find it interesting that I hear WAY more talk about individuals celebrating freedom and THEIR rights than I hear about celebrating being AMERICANS.) Citizenship is defined as a…

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Independence Day: Remembering What YOUR Freedom Cost

The Fourth of July will be here tomorrow, although some celebrations have already taken place. But it promises to be a weekend full of parties and gatherings. America’s heritage is pretty amazing, and it deserves more than barbeque and fireworks, so let’s talk about our Independence Day. We value freedom in America, and we exercise it, too. On July 4 we celebrate the freedom that we gained by…

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John Says, "Love the Father, Not the World." How's That Working Out for You?

In the First Epistle of John, he describes the world in which we live, and the Kingdom where God lives. He goes into detail about two very different kingdoms, with very different standards and agendas. You know, “Love not the world”, and “If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” Have you ever stopped to think about what John is really saying? If there is a heavenly…

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Should You Read Today's Blog About Eternity? Choose Wisely!

In the grand scheme of things, what happens to us? Do we get to choose our fate, or not? Is where we spend eternity something that just happens to us, or do we have a choice in the matter? Here’s what the Apostle Peter wrote about it: “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping…

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The End of the World May Be Coming. Are You Prepared For It?

Over the past few months, I have probably heard more conversation about the end of the world than I’ve heard in many years. I guess wars, a global pandemic, terrorist attacks and the imminent possibility of nuclear destruction can do that. The advent of AI and its impact has also sparked a great deal of speculation: will it build Skynet and take control? Or will it just blur the lines so that no…

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Sticks and Stones May Break Your Bones, But Words Can REALLY Hurt You!

You may remember a poem by Carl Sandburg, where he said your tongue can get you into trouble. Well, actually he wrote about words: “Look out how you use proud words. When you let proud words go it is not easy to call them back. They wear long boots, hard boots, they walk off proud; they can’t hear you calling — Look out how you use proud words.” Good advice from a famous American poet, advice…

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Provoke Somebody Today! But, Do It For the Right Reasons!

When we say, “Don’t provoke me”, it is usually another way of saying, “Don’t make me mad!” The dictionary says provoke means “stimulate or give rise to (a reaction or emotion, typically a strong or unwelcome one) in someone.” In this verse from Hebrews, the author offers us a different take on how to provoke one another. Instead of the word meaning antagonizing or harassing someone, he says we…

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Onesimus and Philemon Had a Big Problem. (It's the Same Problem YOU Have, too!)

As we make our way through the last of Paul’s epistles, we encounter the curious case of Paul’s letter on behalf of Onesimus, a slave who ran away from his master, a man named Philemon. According to Roman law and cultural dictates, Philemon had the right to demand severe punishment for Onesimus (even the death penalty). Both the law and society were on his side. He could ask for the ultimate…