“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him” (Jas 1:5). The best way to escape from a problem is to solve it! And the best way to solve it is to lose faith in your own ability […]
“Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you” (Prov 9:8). A proverb: a short sentence based on long experience. A sermon in a sentence, this one reminds us that our reaction to correction today will prove us to be a foolish scoffer or a wise […]
“Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard” (Dan 10:12). Ability and humility are not opposites, but essential complements in the lives of vital people. If we remember from Whom our ability came and for Whom […]
“…That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man” (Eph 3:16). People see the outer as “me,” but “the inner man” is what God knows me to be in all my redeemed potential. Only the Spirit-led inner man can accomplish […]
“For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls” (1 Pet 2:25). Lost sheep wander. Peace of mind and accomplishment in life won’t come through half-hearted scatter-shot living. The devoted life is a focused life. The Shepherd knows what we should do. […]
“Baal-Hanan the Gederite was over the olive trees and the sycamore trees that were in the lowlands, and Joash was over the store of oil” (1 Chron 27:28). Why all those names in the Bible? Well, they were real people, and God takes note of everyone. Were these men unimportant? No, without them—no temple service! […]
“Now the works of the flesh are…But the fruit of the Spirit is…” (Gal 5:19, 22). The first list is a catalog of what people do to fail: things like hatred, jealousy, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambition, envy, etc. The other list, the Spirit’s work in us, is the secret of success. You pick! […]
“Before he was taken [Enoch] had this testimony, that he pleased God” (Heb 11:5). He had no gravestone, because God took him straight Home (wouldn’t that be great today?), but if he had, here’s what it could have read: “He pleased God.” Lord, help me aim my little life at that! […]
“Let me see your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely” (Song 2:14). It can well be said that prayer expresses the soul’s desires, praise expresses the soul’s delight, but personal communion expresses the soul’s devotion. May we enjoy our time with Him today. […]