-
Backbiting, complaining, murmuring, anger, bitterness, rage, offense…all things that have no place in anyone’s life, especially a disciple of Jesus. Have you ever been given the cold shoulder by someone? We all have at some point. That happened to me recently with another believer. I spoke, waved, and nothing. Just a glare. I even tried…
-
“I’m hungry!” Those are words we’ve all said, and I constantly hear from three growing kids. As my mom used to say, “I think they have a hollow leg” because nothing seems ever to fill them up! Food is a critical element in life. It energizes, sustains, and satisfies our hunger. From snacks to three-square…
-
Donuts are a universal sign of friendship, at least I think so. They can break down walls of division, create fast friendships, and strengthen good relationships. Well, they may not be miracle workers, but a good éclair sugar high can do wonders. I’ve given donuts to road construction workers, random businesses, schools, and yes, even…
-
This morning in church, I was challenged with Hebrews 12:1-2: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer…
-
Because of their rebellion and disobedience, the Jewish people had been taken captive into Babylon for seventy years (Jeremiah 29). There are always consequences for sin, the most significant being separation from the Lord. When we feel that separation and desire to be restored to the Lord, repentance is beginning to occur in our hearts. …
-
Have you ever longed to be in the presence of the Lord? The psalmist in Psalm 84 described his deep desire to be in God’s presence and the blessings that came from it. He begins by saying, “How lovely is Your dwelling place, Lord Almighty” (v. 1). During that day, the Lord lived in buildings. …
-
Have you ever felt surrounded by enemies, like everyone was out to get you? While it’s doubtful that everyone is against you, it can sometimes feel that way. We must take captive vain imaginations that exaggerate the work of the enemy (2 Corinthians 10:5). We must submit ourselves to God and resist the devil (James…
-
A Scripture commonly taken out of context today is “judge not lest you be judged” (Matthew 7:1). The correct interpretation of that passage (Matthew 7:1-6) is cautioning wrong judgment, not no judgment at all. For instance, verses 3-4 instruct someone to consider the plank in their eye before rendering judgment on the speck in someone…
-
Worship and obedience go together. If we worship without obedience, we celebrate God only when He does what we want how we want it. If we obey without worship, we respond to God’s Word and Spirit begrudgingly. One without the other soon cancels the other out. If we only attempt to worship or obey on…
-
God can reconcile those divided, whether a marriage, church, family, or friends. He knows how to make two become one (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:5) and two groups one (Ephesians 2:14). Asaph’s prayer in Psalm 80 was for the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah to be restored (vv. 3, 7, 19). …
stephen R Harrison 