Many of the names in the Bible that refer to our Lord are nothing less than palatial and august: Son of God, The Lamb of God, The Light of the World, The Resurrection and the Life, The Bright and Morning Star, He that Should Come, Alpha and Omega. They are phrases that stretch the…
Shine On!
Try to shine as lights among the people of this world, as you hold firmly to the message that gives life.— Philippians 2:1516 CEV There’s a lot of talk about moonlight and how it lights up the night. But, actually, there’s no such thing as moonlight. The Moon doesn’t really shine at all; rather, when…
Jesus, I Need Your Grace
That Difficult Person Dear Jesus, I need Your help. Someone is making my life difficult. I have tried to be kind and patient — You know I have, Lord. But there have been times when I’ve lost my temper — You know that too. I’ve said unkind things and thought even worse things. Our relationship…
Who Jesus Is
When I was growing up, Madonna once said, “Jesus Christ was like a movie star, my favorite idol of all.”¹ Napoleon Bonaparte went further: “I know men, and I tell you Jesus Christ was not a man. Superficial minds see a resemblance between Christ and the founders of empires and the gods of other…
He Pleads for You, Even Now
Earth, do not cover my blood; may my cry never be laid to rest! Even now my Witness is in Heaven; my Advocate is on high. My Intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God; on behalf of a man He pleads with God as one pleads for a friend. – Job 16:18-21 * Job looks up…
Satan Stalked Him
He faced all of the same temptations we do. — Hebrews 4:15 You and I know what it is like to endure a moment of temptation or an hour of temptation, even a day of temptation. But forty days? That is what Jesus faced. The Spirit led Jesus into the desert where the devil tempted Jesus for forty…
Jesus, I Need You… When I Am Tempted
Temptation is all around us, but as we learn in Matthew 4:1-11, Jesus taught us how to overcome it: with the Word of God. * Dear Jesus, Why is self-control so difficult? Whether it’s overeating, spending too much time on my phone, or losing my temper, sometimes my self-control slips, and I do the very…
Simply Resistible
Modern Bible readers see Jesus as an extension of the Jewish Scriptures, our Old Testament. Jewish leaders in Jesus’ day didn’t see Him as an extension or fulfillment of anything… From their vantage point, Jesus was introducing something new. On this, they were correct. ~ Andy Stanley BEFORE YOU BEGIN A quick reading reminder before…
Recognizing the Holy Spirit
Simeon took [the baby Jesus] in his arms and praised God, saying: “Sovereign Lord, as You have promised, You may now dismiss Your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your…
The Present-Tense Christ
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. – Hebrews 13:8 I am God’s Son. – John 10:36 I am the resurrection and the life. – John 11:25 I am the way, and the truth, and the life. – John 14:6 I am the true vine. – John 15:1 The present-tense Christ. He never says, “I…