Do you have that one person that you really-really don’t like? The one who you pray you don’t have to talk to at the church social? Or the one who hurt you but acts like nothing happened? Basically, do you have someone who you might consider an enemy? Well, God has enemies, too. But these enemies probably aren’t who you think they are.
Continue reading “Beloved Enemy”My Opinion Doesn’t Matter
I am a very opinionated person. Ask anyone who knows me. I have an opinion on my hair, your hair, your dog’s hair, and even that statue’s hair. My opinion matters…at least that’s what I tell myself. I’m sure at least half of you reading this feel the same way…about your opinions mattering…not about my hair. So, needless to say, when I come across a scripture like Genesis 24:50, it makes me stop and pause.
Continue reading “My Opinion Doesn’t Matter”Why Sabbath?
Summer has arrived for some of us. For others, it’s coming quickly. When you think of summer, you probably think about finally getting to rest. It’s a chance to chill and breathe a little. Yet, the crazy thing is, we shouldn’t have to wait until summer for this type of pause within our lives.
Continue reading “Why Sabbath?”Have You Left Your Grave?
Continue reading “Have You Left Your Grave?”But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here, for he has been raised, just as he said. Come and see the place where he was lying. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead. He is going ahead of you into Galilee. You will see him there.’ Listen, I have told you!” Matthew 28:5-7
New English Translation
To Die is Gain
Continue reading “To Die is Gain”For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Philippians 1:21-22
English Standard Version
Made New
Continue reading “Made New”You were taught with reference to your former way of life to lay aside the old man who is being corrupted in accordance with deceitful desires, to be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and to put on the new man who has been created in God’s image—in righteousness and holiness that comes from truth. Ephesians 4:22-24
Do not lie to one another since you have put off the old man with its practices and have been clothed with the new man that is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of the one who created it. Colossians 3:9-10
Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that since Christ has been raised from the dead, he is never going to die again; death no longer has mastery over him. For the death he died, he died to sin once for all, but the life he lives, he lives to God. So you too consider yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Romans 6:8-11
New English Translation
Even If…
Continue reading “Even If…”“If our God whom we are serving exists, he is able to rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and he will rescue us, O king, from your power as well. But if he does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we don’t serve your gods, and we will not pay homage to the golden statue that you have erected.” Daniel 3:17-18
New English Translation
Tricky Situations
Continue reading “Tricky Situations”Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except by God’s appointment, and the authorities that exist have been instituted by God. So the person who resists such authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will incur judgment (for rulers cause no fear for good conduct but for bad). Do you desire not to fear authority? Do good and you will receive its commendation because it is God’s servant for your well-being. But be afraid if you do wrong because government does not bear the sword for nothing. It is God’s servant to administer punishment on the person who does wrong. Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of the wrath of the authorities but also because of your conscience. For this reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants devoted to governing. Pay everyone what is owed: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due. Romans 13:1-7
Be subject to every human institution for the Lord’s sake, whether to a king as supreme or to governors as those he commissions to punish wrongdoers and praise those who do good. For God wants you to silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing good. 1 Peter 2:13-15
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment accompanied by a promise, namely, “that it will go well with you and that you will live a long time on the earth.” Ephesians 6:1-3
New English Translation
Ignorance is Bliss
Continue reading “Ignorance is Bliss”For if we deliberately keep on sinning after receiving the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins is left for us, but only a certain fearful expectation of judgment and a fury of fire that will consume God’s enemies. Someone who rejected the law of Moses was put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much greater punishment do you think that person deserves who has contempt for the Son of God, and profanes the blood of the covenant that made him holy, and insults the Spirit of grace? For we know the one who said, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Hebrews 10:26-31
New English Translation
The Curtain
Continue reading “The Curtain”Then Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and gave up his spirit. Just then the temple curtain was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks were split apart. And tombs were opened, and the bodies of many saints who had died were raised. Matthew 27:50-52
New English Translation