If you have ever bought a house that required a mortgage, you have probably gone through the process known as escrow. Escrow checks all of the boxes to ensure the change of ownership happens legally. At the end, you sign a multipage contract which tells you your right and lays out the agreement between the…
Read MoreThere is an old adage for parents which states, “The days are long, but the years are short.” Basically, what it is saying is don’t blink, or your time with your children will be gone before you know. Paul expresses the same concern when he says, the Lord will return in the twinkling of an eye, and we will all be changed. Don’t Blink. Jesus could come back, and you could be left behind.
1 Corinthians 15:52
“in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed.”
No one wants to think about death or the end of life. Paul addresses some of the concerns people in the church in Corinth had been asking about. What will it be like when Jesus returns, and what happens to those who have already died? Paul also addressed this with the church in Thessalonica. They thought the rapture had happened, and they missed out. Paul explains that when Jesus comes, it is going to be so quick that if you blink, you could miss it. The trumpet is going to sound, and Jesus is going to return on the clouds and gather those who are His. It will start with those who died first, and then those who are still alive will be caught up in the air with Him. It will be a glorious moment.
Read MoreWant to know one of the keys to success in your Christian walk? It’s a simple theory, honestly but challenging to put into application. Rise Above it all. Paul tells the Colossians to focus on what is essential. Think about the things of Christ, and don’t get distracted by the trivial. Rise above it all. One way to do that is to forgive the other person.
Colossians 3:1,13
“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.” “bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.”
The Colossian was growing fast and making an impact on the region. As always happens, problems crop up and threaten to destroy any momentum that has happened. Paul instructs this young church first to keep their mind focused on things above or heaven. He also tells them to bear with one another and be willing to forgive when others wrong them. Keeping your mind right and your heart free of bitterness will make you available to be used by God.
Read MoreThe darkness of a room can be disconcerting and confusing. It is easy to lose your frame of reference and not know where you are. Very little good comes out of the darkness. That is why Jesus said He was the light of the world. He illuminates the darkness and exposes the evil that resides there. Sadly, people who are in the darkness don’t want to be exposed. If you are struggling you can overcome the darkness. The power of the light Jesus brings is more powerful than any darkness.
John 3:17-19
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.
Come out of the dark. The pressure of life builds up for everyone. How we handle that pressure can make or break us. Many people choose to cope with that pressure by indulging in private sin. That momentary escape gives them a brief respite from the stress of life. Unfortunately, that temporary fix becomes a necessity. It starts taking up more time than we want it too. Soon we find ourselves in a place where we can’t stop and we are too embarrassed to seek help. When we finally get exposed there is a sense of relief but there is still that pull to run back to our dark place. We can get free from that bondage that ensnares us. Come out of the dark and turn to Jesus.
Read MoreSome people are called to a tough life. What they experience and have to do is more stringent than most people. God has built and equipped them for this role. They can endure more than most humans. Jeremiah was a person like this. He was called to stand up to the rulers of Israel. God…
Read MoreGod has hundreds of promises in His Word. One of those promises is that he looks after those who are humble and contrite. Here in Isaiah, God promises to revive your spirit if you are humble. Everyone is going to get down and need some encouragement. Even the humble and contrite get discouraged. God sees…
Read MoreThe more you become an expert in something like music or sports, the more you need to practice to remain at that level. Baseball players take more groundballs and musicians play more scales. One area where we don’t need any practice is being a sinner. Nothing comes more naturally to us than sinning. It constantly…
Read MoreTime is something you can never get back. As of writing this, no time machine has been invented. So we have to be wise with how we use our time. We shouldn’t fritter it away or, even worse, use it for the wrong purposes. Paul tells us to redeem the time by sharing the Gospel…
Read More.When you are struggling, you can have others come alongside you and support you, but they can’t carry your sorrows. Loved ones can surround you, but they can’t feel the pain of your disease. While their love and support make the sorrow easier, it is yours to carry alone. When it comes to your sin,…
Read MorePleasing God is Impossible Without Faith. No good work or behavior will get you over the top. It is stepping out in faith that will please Him. Your willingness to step out of your comfort zone when you don’t know the outcome and when things don’t look promising is faith. Faith is where we learn…
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