Watch! Stand firm in the faith! Be courageous! Be strong! Let all that you do be done in love. 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 WEB As Paul begins to close his first letter to the Corinthians, he gives five commands to his readers. This is typical of good leadership. Paul is reminding the church of the...
Ask, and it will be given you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened for you. Matthew 7:7 WEB In chapter five of Matthew’s gospel, the author begins recounting Jesus’ sermon on the mount. The sermon continues here with Jesus’ teaching the attitude with which believers should pray....
Jesus, looking at them, said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God, for all things are possible with God.” Mark 10:27 WEB As Jesus traveled into Judea beyond the Jordan River, multitudes of people met with him to receive his teaching. Some sought the Lord in sincerity, others were curious,...
But you, when you pray, enter into your inner room, and having shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. Matthew 6:6 WEB This scripture highlights the difference between sincerity and insincerity. In it, Jesus instructs the...
Again, he began to teach by the seaside. A great multitude was gathered to him, so that he entered into a boat in the sea and sat down. All the multitude were on the land by the sea. Mark 4:1 WEB In the previous chapter of Mark’s gospel account, Mark describes a growing multitude of people from...
But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me. Psalm 13:5-6 NIV Faith in the unfailing love of the Lord is the greatest source of strength and joy possible. David begins this psalm in desperation, seeking the Lord...
In those days, John the Baptizer came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!” Matthew 3:1-2 WEB The gospel of Matthew begins with genealogy from the house of David to the house of Joseph, engaged to the mother of Jesus. It then relates...
When calamity comes, the wicked are brought down, but even in death the righteous seek refuge in God. Proverbs 14:32 NIV When we encounter trouble, God is always the best source of help, protection, and guidance. Through all of life’s trials and tribulations, the Lord is faithful to shield and...
and have put on the new man, who is being renewed in knowledge after the image of his Creator, Colossians 3:10 WEB As descendants of Adam, we are born in a fallen state. In other words, man is by nature in rebellion to the will of God. We read in Romans 3:10, “As it is written, ‘There is no one...
I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh, for as you presented your members as servants to uncleanness and to wickedness upon wickedness, even so now present your members as servants to righteousness for sanctification. Romans 6:19 WEB In the preceding verses, Paul writes that...
When he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they were gathered together with the assembly and taught many people. The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. Acts 11:26 WEB As Christians, we are part of a family of faith that is grafted onto the vine of Jewish...
Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report: if there is any virtue and if there is any praise, think about these things. Philippians 4:8 WEB In the...
