We are to take up the shield of faith in all circumstances. (Eph. 6:16) What could that mean? I thought that meant that we should cover our eyes toward pornographic images. And cover our ears from explicit lyrics of secular music. And shield our mouth from speaking dirty words. Surely, those things are to be […]

Matthew 21:25-27–The baptism of John, from where did it come? From heaven or from man?” And they discussed it among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 26 But if we say, ‘From man,’ we are afraid of the crowd, for they all […]

Grace-driven efforts we are to make as Christians: (Eph 5:1-10) Imitate Jesus by becoming holy (v. 1) Walk in love (v. 2) Avoid sexual immorality (v. 3) Watch your mouth (v. 4) Figure out what pleases God and do it (v. 10) There are more mentioned, but I will stop there. I do not need […]

Matthew 19:21-Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”     In the basic makeup of a marriage the way God ordained it to function, it takes two people continually sacrificing things in […]

Here is how to pray for yourself other than the usual requests of health, safety, success, peace, etc. Lord, grant me: (Eph. 3:16-19) 1) Strength in my inner being 2) Indwelling of Christ 3) Rooted in love 4) Understanding of the love of Christ 5) Fullness of God. And this is how to be an […]

I think it is the mercy of God to deaden our youthful passions as we age. When I look back at my younger days, I shake my head in shame and guilt and hope no one finds out! Not that all my evil passions are completely dead now – far from it – but the […]

Matthew 18:32-35–Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me.  33  And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’  34  And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he […]

Say, you have messed up royally, but you still want God to be on your side and act on your behalf, how would you pray? You certainly wouldn’t pray that God will be good to you because of your righteousness. And you certainly don’t want God to treat you according to His justice, since if […]

Matthew 5:13–“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. More and more the world has embraced the significance of having a purpose in life. Because they […]

It is only half true that the opposite of faith is sight. While it is true that “We walk by faith and not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7), it is NOT true that faith is blind. Faith is seeing! It is seeing the invisible. It is seeing the spiritual reality beyond the physical reality. So, […]