Your Faith Revealed
Posted on December 21, 2016 1 Comment
Signs are helpful because of what they lead to, or reveal. For example, the sign of human life is breath. If you want to know if a human body is living, you look for signs of breathing. If you detect breath, you know immediately life is present.
What do you look for to Read More
The Power of Your Tongue
Posted on December 14, 2016 5 Comments
The most powerful member of your body is your tongue. Don’t believe me? Then take a quick look at what the Bible has to say on this subject.
“A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth; From the produce of his lips he shall be filled. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.” (Proverbs 18:20-21 NKJV)
“Whoever guards his mouth and Read More
May You Find Rest
Posted on December 7, 2016 1 Comment
Undoubtedly, stress is one of the greatest contributors to many of society’s problems and the root cause of much physical and emotional pain and suffering. It can also be one of the greatest hindrances to your spiritual growth and well-being, too. Stress is simply no good–it’s toxic!
That’s why the Bible tells us in numerous places to trust God with our lives and rest in His love for us. Here are a just a few examples: Read More
God Will Answer You
Posted on December 1, 2016 Leave a Comment
Do you remember when Jesus said to His disciples, “At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.”? (John 16:26-27 KJV). Wow, that is an amazing promise straight from the lips of Jesus Himself!
This is what this means. You don’t need anybody to Read More
Are You Struggling With Being Faithful?
Posted on November 30, 2016 5 Comments
“Go tell my disciples, and Peter, I am risen.” He singles Peter out; makes special mention of him; calls him by name. Why? Peter had just denied Him three times, was feeling utterly worthless, completely rejected, a total failure. Peter had given up on himself. Jesus would never give up on him.
Do you sometimes feel like a failure, that God must be angry with you and probably wants to Read More
I Am Grateful For…
Posted on November 23, 2016 1 Comment
Every year Americans celebrate Thanksgiving Day. It’s a great tradition–setting aside time to say thanks to God first, and then to family and friends for the things they have said and done over the years that have enriched our lives. In fact, giving thanks is such a powerful thing that Read More
Receive Blessings You Don’t Deserve
Posted on November 16, 2016 2 Comments
Ever heard someone say of another person God is blessing, “She really deserves it”? Or, have you ever thought, I know God will bless me because I am faithful? In other words, you feel you deserve to be blessed, to be happy, to have your prayers answered because you have been faithful. If so, you are making a costly mistake and limiting your blessings in a huge way!
Just listen to what the Scriptures have to say about how “deserving” we are of Read More
Remember Who Your Source Is
Posted on November 9, 2016 2 Comments
Faced with a serious, life-threatening scarcity of food and water, Elijah was forced to seek refuge near a brook and depend on God to use extraordinary means to feed him. But after a year of drinking from the brook, it went dry. Now, he was facing a major crisis that had just gotten far worse. No doubt he prayed because God answered.
“Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.” (I Kings 17:8-9 NKJV)
Elijah responded in faith and Read More
God Is Rich Toward You
Posted on November 2, 2016 2 Comments
The Bible declares, “The just shall live by faith.” And again, we are saved, “by grace through faith.” Do you know why God chose to base the entire plan of redemption on faith? To operate his kingdom on faith and to bless people through faith? It is because He wants everyone to be able to participate equally in and enjoy all his blessings fully.
Think about it, if He operated the kingdom on the basis of intelligence, some people would have Read More
Grace for the Fallen
Posted on October 20, 2016 2 Comments
Remember Samson? Just watched a powerful dramatic enactment of his story at Sight & Sound Theater in Pennsylvania. His story is recorded in Judges 13-16. God chose him and anointed him to deliver His people from their enemies. But his success depended upon his adherence to some very specific instructions God gave him. One of those instructions forbade him from cutting his hair. He knew if he ever did so, he would lose his extraordinary strength and sacrifice his ability to defend himself and his people against the Philistines.
Unfortunately, however, Samson had a weakness for pretty women. Delilah, a pretty Philistine woman, seduced him and managed to get him to tell her the secret of his strength. Upon discovering his secret, his uncut hair, the symbol of his consecration to God, she proceeded to cut off his hair while he slept in her bed. Without his hair, Samson was no match for the Philistine army. The conqueror became the conquered!
The creative enactment of Samson’s story I just watched drove home two very important lessons for all of us. Here they are:
- Sin makes you stupid. Samson knew the risks he was taking in flirting with Delilah, and he should certainly have understood the tremendous price he could pay if he divulged his secret to her. But he did so any way and suffered tremendous personal loss as a result. His captors bound him, plucked out his eyes, enslaved him, and made sport of him. And even though he was eventually able to defeat them, he lost his physical life in the process. Sin makes you do stupid things. It is extremely hazardous to your health and well-being. So resist temptation. For your own good, for the good of all those connected to you, and for the glory of God, flee from all known sin, especially immorality!
- Grace is like hair. You may cut it off at any point by an act of your will, through your unbelief, but it is always available to you in Christ. And like hair, you can get it to start growing again in your life. Just turn back to Christ in faith, ask for the grace you need to do his will, and then depend on this grace to give you a fresh start. Remember, while your sins may produce huge personal and family losses, they cannot prevent the grace of God from reaching you or ever separate you from the love of God. You may forfeit grace, but grace will never forsake you!
“And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (II Corinthians 12:9 NKJV)
Child of God, you are a saint. Even more than Samson, God has set you apart for His glory. You belong to Him and He has a very special reason for saving your soul. Do not, therefore, allow sin to make you stupid. Moreover, don’t cut yourself off from the grace of God through unbelief and self-effort. But if you ever make any of these very costly mistakes, never forget, God’s grace is always available to you. In your weakest moments, turn to Him in faith and you will find Him always there with arms outstretched. Samson discovered this to be true. I have also. And you will too.
A Moment of Grace 