A NEW START

LUKE 5:17-32   John gives homeless and transitional house residents a job and a second opportunity by hiring them. “We take people no one else wants,” he claims.   According to Luke 5:17–26, Jesus restored the physical and spiritual health of a paralyzed man. After that miraculous encounter, Levi responded to Jesus’ call to follow Him … [Read more…]

REST

GENESIS 2:2-3 People sometimes work hard in order to get things they do not actually need, or to impress people they do not really like. Lack of rest has become a widespread epidemic. Health professionals warn that not getting enough sleep shortens our lifespan by years. Also, it may make us eat incorrect foods (especially fast … [Read more…]

AN EXAMPLE THAT ENCOURAGES

JOHN 13:1-17 It is said that some pastors from Europe went to D. L. Moody’s Bible conference in Massachusetts in the late 1800s. They put their shoes outside their room before going to bed as was customary, anticipating that hotel staff would clean them. Moody, who was aware of their custom, informed others of the … [Read more…]

MONEY!

1 TIMOTHY 6:6-19 Money being the root of all evil is a common misinterpretation of the Bible. Not so. The love of money, according to the Bible, “is the root of all evil” (1 Timothy 6:10). This point of difference is crucial. Are you currently setting money aside for anything? Searching for additional methods to earn a … [Read more…]

DAMAGED RELATIONSHIPS

PHILIPPIANS 2:3; 4:2-7 From my window, I observed the destruction of a residential building. It only took a week to complete the demolition. Now, a new structure is being constructed in its position. Even though the construction team has been working on weekends and nights for months, it is still not finished. It just goes … [Read more…]

BELIEVING AHEAD OF TIME

REVELATION 22:12-21 Some Americans built a homemade radio in a German prison camp during World War II without the authorities knowing. The German high command’s surrender, which brought the war to an end, was announced one day in the news. The guards were unaware of this, though, due to a communication breakdown. The inmates started to … [Read more…]

THE POWER OF SIMPLICITY

MARK 12:28-34 Americans frequently complain that their laws are needlessly complicated, and many laws have complex wording that fills dozens or even hundreds of pages. They are not alone because numerous other nations also struggle with this issue. By pledging to veto any law longer than three pages, the late Herman Cain, who briefly held the lead … [Read more…]

A MESSAGE FOR THE STRUGGLING

HEBREWS 10:32-39 “Don’t bite off more than you can chew,” as the old saying goes. It is a good idea to avoid taking on more than we can handle. But eventually, we will probably feel overpowered by the scope and complexity of a task we have committed to. Even in our walk of faith in Christ, this … [Read more…]

LOSS OF MEMORY

We may occasionally experience spiritual amnesia and forget God’s grace when we are going through difficult situations. But setting out time to actively reflect on and express gratitude for God’s past provisions for us is an excellent method to reestablish an attitude of gratitude. The Israelites lost their remembrance of God’s goodness when they were stranded … [Read more…]

THE RIGHTEOUS THUMB

GENESIS 6:8, 11-22 Four fingers and a thumb lived side by side on a hand, according to an African folktale. Friends for life, they were. On one occasion, they decided to steal a gold ring that was lying next to them. The four fingers referred to the thumb as an overrighteous coward and declined to be … [Read more…]