Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are. 1 Peter 5:8–9 […]
Read MoreTag Archives: Matthew
Growing Up as We Grow Older
Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more […]
Read MoreShine Like Stars
Prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding firmly the word of life, so that on the day of Christ I can take pride because I did not run in vain nor […]
Read MoreThe Most Christlike Attitude
Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. Philippians 2:1–2 As I have pored over Luke’s […]
Read MorePriorities
Life is a lot like a coin; you can spend it any way you wish, but you can spend it only once. Choosing one thing over all the rest throughout life is a difficult thing to do. This is especially true when the choices are so many and the possibilities are so close. To be completely truthful with you, however, we aren’t left with numerous possibilities.
Read MoreHome
And his name will be the hope of all the world. Matthew 12:21 (NLT) No wonder my heart is glad, and my tongue shouts his praises! My body rests in hope. Acts 2:26 (NLT) Hope is our lifeline, keeping us engaged in the struggle. Marathoners press on to the finish line as long as they […]
Read MoreHe Is Risen!
Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb. —Matthew 28:1 (NLT) Resurrection comes from resurge or resurgence, in the sense of “coming back” or “renewing” or “rising up.” In other words, Jesus Christ, who was once down, dead, laid aside, crucified, […]
Read MoreDarkness and Silence
At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. . . . Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” —Matthew 27:45–46 (NLT) Jesus barely clung to life. He was still pushing Himself up against the raw wooden beam […]
Read MoreTake Up Your Cross
Then they knelt before him in mockery and taunted, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they spit on him and grabbed the stick and struck him on the head with it. —Matthew 27:29–30 (NLT) Knowing in his heart that Jesus was innocent, Pilate compromised his convictions to appease the people and turned Him over to […]
Read MoreOur Substitute
“Which of these two do you want me to release to you?” The crowd shouted back, “Barabbas!” Pilate responded, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” They shouted back, “Crucify him!” —Matthew 27:21–22 (NLT) Although he never appears on center stage, Barabbas played a major role. Having been convicted and […]
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