We are more blessed when we give than when we look to receive
Acts 20:35 “In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Paul the apostle speaks to the elders in the city of Ephesus in ancient Asia Minor. He knows that…
The love of God flows through us by the life of the Spirit within us
Acts 6:3 3 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. There arose a dispute in the early church concerning the care of widows. Apparently, in the community of believers, a system was put in place to aid the…
We have opened our hearts wide
2 Corinthians 6:11-13 11 Dear friends in Corinth! We have spoken frankly to you; we have opened our hearts wide. 12 It is not we who have closed our hearts to you; it is you who have closed your hearts to us. 13 I speak now as though you were my children: show us the same feelings that we have…
We do not live the Christian life alone
Acts 2:42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. We do not live the Christian life in isolation. We cannot serve God alone. The fire of God within us will go out if we attempt to obey God without the support of others. When…
Every day God gives us new spiritual clothes to wear
Zechariah 3:1-4 Next I saw Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, with Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. 2 The Lord said to Satan, “May the Lord rebuke you, Satan! May the Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Isn’t this man like a burning stick snatched from the fire?” 3 Now Joshua was dressed in…
Doing all for the glory of God
John 12:27-28 27 “Now my soul is greatly distressed. And what should I say? ‘Father, deliver me from this hour’? No, but for this very reason I have come to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” Jesus clearly knew the reason…
Learning to walk every day in the life and power of the Spirit
Genesis 1:1-2 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was without shape and empty, and darkness was over the surface of the watery deep, but the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the water. These are the first two verses in the Bible. They tell us…
There is something extraordinarily beautiful on earth when we see the people of God live together in harmony…
Psalm 133 How wonderful it is, how pleasant, for God’s people to live together in harmony! 2 It is like the precious anointing oil running down from Aaron’s head and beard, down to the collar of his robes. 3 It is like the dew on Mount Hermon, falling on the hills of Zion. That is…
Our souls are thirsty
In John 4:13-14, Jesus offers the world live-giving water. This is water from heaven that only Jesus himself can give to the world. Jesus offers this water to us every day. Therefore, we must give up all hope and desire to find that which satisfies our souls outside of Him. Our souls are thirsty. We…
We make every effort to please the One who gave His all for us
In Luke 21:25-37 Jesus prophesies about His second coming back to earth at the end of the age to complete the redemption of God. Jesus is coming again, at God’s chosen time, and the whole world will see “The Son of Man (Jesus) coming in a cloud with power and glory” (vs. 27). This…