Thus far, there are three characters in the story: the stripped and wounded man left half dead is any and every one of us. The second and third characters are church leaders with no fruit of the Spirit. They too are lost. So, all three characters thus far presented are in a lost condition.
Read MoreIf anyone is a believer, then Satan wants to destroy anyone’s faith. And he wants to steal the uncorrupted ‘teachableness’ of every young person. His motives are far uglier than we can even imagine.
Read MoreThe Master Teacher brought this lawyer to an unanticipated level of engagement by answering his question with a question. The genuinely respectful tone of voice of Jesus—along with that piercingly thoughtful gaze—totally disarmed the lawyer!
Read MoreIn modern usage, the word “despise” is applied in a context of active loathing or hatred. But the word that is translated despised in Scripture refers to a passive verb.
Read MoreIn His great wisdom, Jesus communicated in various ways and degrees of emphasis, depending upon the listeners. He employed softer words whenever possible, conveying the light of truth to hearts tender and receptive to the foundational principles of heaven. In the cases of those who have allowed corruption to alter their ways of thinking, His words are sharper in order to break through the shell of hardness.
Read MoreCorinth was one of the worldliest of cities, over-run with corruption of every sort. Their advantage was having in plain view the marked contrast between the godless culture from which they came and the pure gospel teachings of God’s love, forgiveness, and a new, wholesome life of living for Him as a testimony of His grace to change hearts.
Read MoreBeloved, your confidence lies in the authority of Jesus. Your faithfulness to Him is a display, showing that His authority is the standard to which you are committed.
Read MoreAs long as our lives are hidden with Christ then we are free from the condemnation of our guilty past. Jesus covers our unrighteous past with His robe of righteousness as long as our hearts are surrendered to Him. If we remain under the guidance of His Holy Spirit, continuing forward under the umbrella of His authority and protection, we are safe.
Read MoreThe religious leaders took advantage of the opportunity to humiliate the disciples, pressing in close with questions. They were motivated by a desire to “prove” that Jesus and His disciples were deceivers.
Read MoreAny flaw is forgivable and correctable if we would only acknowledge the necessity of being in agreement with God. A heart that is willing to change in order to align with the will of God is immediately set on a righted course: that of restoration of His image in us. Isn’t that the goal of sanctification?
Read MoreFallen humanity has a propensity for veering off of the path that God desires for us. Going “left” means cropping or deleting specific details that we have been given. Going “right” is the tendency to add to what He has said, creating a burdensome task. Both flaws have a way of making complicated the simple truths that Jesus has for us.
Read MoreWhen Napoleon had the pope removed from his throne in 1798, the 1260-year reign of the first beast—the papacy—came to an end. Or did it? In reality it came to a temporary pause, but has slowly been swelling in power ever since.
Read MoreThe new, young nation arising out of the earth has high, lofty ideals imbedded into its founding principles. At its inception, in a world where most citizens were taxed to support a state-endorsed religion and religious dissidents were cruelly oppressed, our fledgling nation stood apart as the standard-bearer of freedom. A pillar of the Christian faith is that worship of the one true God is done without coercion of any kind.
Read MoreThese lamb-like horns denoted an innocent, young, peace-loving, nonoppressive, and spiritual nation. God’s providence is evident in the lofty ideals that were the banner of the young, new country. Indeed, many of our nation’s founders were themselves followers of Christ.
Read MoreReligious persecution all over Europe was a nightmare for those who desired to live their lives in faithfulness to Jesus. The corrupted church had risen to its officially recognized position of power by AD538, following the papacy’s uprooting—using military power—of the three (of ten) kingdoms who had opposed it (see Daniel 7:8).
Read MoreWhen pressed by them over one such law, Jesus wisely captured the opportunity to make a distinction between God’s law and man-made customs and rules. The real emphasis here is on the condition of the heart.
Read MoreDivine instructions are not only for harmonious life in our fallen world but eternal principles for truly righteous living. People who would be happy in heaven are ready and willing to align themselves now with God’s precepts. It is a growth process. The meek soul who is willing to obey the precepts of God holds the key to receiving more light.
Read MoreThe continuous flame mixed with the holy incense in the earthly tabernacle are meant to communicate to us that as we live and breathe, there is never a moment that we cannot breathe a prayer to the Infinite One!
Read MoreJesus, the living bread, employed sanctuary language. The essential nature of His Word is behind our very existence. And it is for our sanctification. We must eat of this bread every day for nourishment and sustenance, and not as a mere form of godliness. If we are willing to receive its life-giving power, we will continually be in a growth pattern; a pattern of transformation.
Read MoreIf I look to Him throughout the course of the day, then I will be alerted to the reality of the needs of others. In those things we are doing, the mundane becomes majestic, and the lowly becomes lofty. Our interactions with others become divine appointments.
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