When we properly understand the message of the gospel, we will know how utterly helpless we are that it will drive us to our knees in utter desperation. The gospel message is and has always been that God did everything to save us. And when it says everything, it means everything! It’s not that God […]
1 John 3:1,3–See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him…3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. Although respect, […]
Does your heart rejoice when you come across someone who is more gifted than you in making much of God? For example, perhaps you serve in a worship team at church, and you are known for a beautiful voice. Do you rejoice when someone whose voice is even better than yours joins the team? What […]
If we were more aware of exceptions and acknowledged them, we wouldn’t be so prejudiced. For example, not every religious leader in the time of Jesus opposed Jesus. The men who acquired the body of Jesus after His crucifixion and buried it were religious leaders. Joseph of Arimathea, who was a member of the council […]
Romans 8:26–Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. I’ve learned that the more a person walks with God, the more they are prone to realize how little they know about life and even […]
In the Asian culture I grew up in, being shameless is a cardinal sin. For example, if I have shamed my parents by disobeying them and leaving them (a la prodigal son), then if I were to ever come back to them, they would rightly strike my cheek and say, “How could you be so […]
Matthew 17:12–But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man will certainly suffer at their hands.” I remember as a kid growing up, we would try and catch the biggest spider and the biggest bee to make […]
One of the devil’s most insidious lies is, “If so many people do it, it couldn’t be wrong!” In a democratic society like America, this is almost a given. “The majority can’t be wrong.” And so, we feel good about following the masses. Whatever most people seem to be in, it must be okay…. This is […]
A same event could happen to two people and depending on their state of mind, they could have two opposite reactions. And this would reveal the state of their mind. I heard an old Korean tale about two twin brothers. They lived right next to each other and they each had a family of their […]
John 4:7-9-There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” 8 (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” ( For Jews […]