Christ’s love compels us (2 Corinthians 5:14). At the heart of our life, there is to be Christ's love. His love is to shape the way we live our lives. We should no longer live for ourselves but for him who died for us and was raised again (verse 15). The love of Christ for each …
Continue reading Christ’s love for us: growing, showing, glowing and flowing
2 Corinthians 2:12-3:18 - How do we react when things don’t seem to be going very well? We all need the encouragement of God’s Word: ‘Thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumph’ (2:14). When everything seems to be going wrong, we need to be reminded of God’s Word: ‘In all …
Continue reading How do we react when things don’t seem to be going very well?
"Nimrod, was a mighty hunter before the Lord" (Genesis 10:9). We live our life "before the Lord" (in the presence of the Lord, in the eyes of the Lord). This is something we should never forget. We do not live for ourselves, for our own glory. We live for God, to give glory to him. …
Isaiah 24:1-26:21; 2 Corinthians 11:16-33; Psalm 106:32-29 “Lord, ... all that we have accomplished You have done for us” (Isaiah 26:12). “I will boast of the things that show my weakness. The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised for ever ... “ (2 Corinthians 11:30-31). The way of pleasing …
Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters (Genesis 1:2). Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me (Psalm 42:7). The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God …
You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you (Isaiah 26:3). In our lives, there are plenty of things that happen to us which make us wonder if we can ever enjoy "perfect peace." Here, God's Word speaks to us of "perfect peace." What does the prophet Isaiah say to …
2 Corinthians 1-5 Times of trouble can turn out to be times of great blessing - ‘God… comforts us in all our affliction’ (1:3-4). How do we react when things don’t seem to be going very well? We all need the encouragement of God’s Word: ‘Thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in …
Continue reading Journey through the New Testament: 2 Corinthians
The kingdom of God is a power. Paul tells us, "The kingdom of God is not in word, but in power" (1 Corinthians 4:20). It is the power of God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit, breaking into our lives and transforming them. "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God …
We speak about growing in faith, becoming a stronger believer. We speak about growing in grace, becoming a more gracious person. Is this what we learn about in the school of discipleship? Should we not place the emphasis on the faithfulness of God and the grace of God? What are we to say about our …
Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So, we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen …
We preach Christ crucified (1 Corinthians 1:23). What we preach is not ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord (2 Corinthians 4:5). As I was reading these verses about Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord, I found this song of praise, arising in my heart. May God help each of us to think, often, of Jesus, …
Continue reading Responding to God’s Word (43): One day when heaven was filled with his praises…
God speaks, and it is done (Genesis 1:3,6-7,11). He is pleased with what He has done (Genesis 1:4,10,12). This is the pattern of both God’s original creation and our life as a ‘new creation’ (2 Corinthians 5:17). God speaks to us and we say, ‘Your will be done’ (Matthew 6:10).
"I am the light of the world" (John 9:5). "It is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (2 Corinthians 4:6). In John 8:12, Jesus says, "I am the light of …
All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you …
Continue reading What a wonderful thing the Lord has done for us!
Willl we reach the other side? When we're going through troubled times, we wonder if they're ever going to come to an end. We feel like we're losing hope. Can we rediscover hope? When we're feeling like this, we need to hear words of encouragement. Here are some words which will encourage us to look …
Continue reading Our suffering will not last forever. Our salvation will last forever.
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone, the new is here!" (2 Corinthians 5:17). From these words of Paul about "the new creation", we learn that a real conversion is the work of God. Drawn by the love of God and empowered by the power of God, we become …
What an encouragement it is to know that God is working in our hearts and lives to make us more like Jesus. When we read about Jesus, we are always being reminded of how challenging this is. Again and again, we fall short of becoming more like Jesus. Does God give upon us? No! He …
Continue reading “My grace is sufficient for you” (2 Corinthians 12:9).
We were made by God, and we were made for God. Many people say that they believe in God. They believe that he created the world, but this doesn't really change the way they live their lives. We were made for God: we need to hear this as well as "we were made by God." …
Continue reading Living as “a new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life (2 Corinthians 3:6). What is the preaching of God's Word without the power of God's Spirit? We hear the words, and we wonder, "Where is the power?" We need more than the words of the preacher. We need the power of God. It's the power of God …
Continue reading What is the preaching of God’s Word without the power of God’s Spirit?
For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought …
Continue reading Less leaning on our own understanding and more trusting in the Lord
Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path (Psalm 119:105). Your word, Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens (Psalm 119:89). We live in a world of "this is what I think." What about God? What about what he says to us? What about Christ? What about what he says …
Continue reading What about God? What about what he says to us?
But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him (Acts 2:24). This turns the world's way of thinking on its head. It's the exact opposite of what the world says to us. The world tells us that people don't …
There is nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9). Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! (2 Corinthians 5:17). There's a difference between life "under the sun" and life in the Son. It's important that we understand this difference. Life under the sun: this is life, …
Continue reading There’s a difference between life under the sun and life in the Son.
Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading …
God's promises are not a combination of 'Yes' and 'No.' His promises are always 'Yes; (chapter 1). In Christ, God makes us partakers of His triunoh (chapter 2). He does this, as we look upon the glory of the Lord and are changed into His likeness (3:17). God hasn't saved us for our own benefit …
God wants His grace to be multiplied. He has called us to be "ambassadors for Christ." We are to call men and women to "be reconciled to God" (chapter 5). If we are to be effective "ambassadors for Christ", we nust be godly in characterr. We are to stand out as those who belong to …
"If anyone wants to boast, let him boast of the Lord" (end of chapter 10). There is no room for human pride, but we are to be proud of the Lord. It is in the Lord that we have the resources that we need to battle against and triumph over Satan, the enemy of our …
It is because of God that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God — that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord (1 Corinthians 1:30-31). Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is …
Continue reading God’s Word still speaks to us (34): My grace is sufficient for you.
God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ (Galatians 6:14). "God forbid... " These words convey the powerful conviction that Paul had concerning proclaiming Christ crucified. It was a powerful conviction that came to him from God. It was God, working in his heart, that compelled Paul to glory …
Continue reading God’s Word still speaks to us (23): The love of Christ compels us.
The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). In our journey through …
Continue reading God’s Word still speaks to us (20): Strengthened by the Lord
From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of …
Continue reading God’s Word still speaks to us (15): The words of eternal life
And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself (Luke 24:27). They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:32). Our Saviour, Jesus Christ, opens up the Scriptures to …
Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it …
2 Corinthians 1:1-2:11Lord, You “comfort us in all our affliction” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). You turn our times of trouble into times of great blessing. When bad things are happening to us, You keep on loving us. You don’t leave us on our own when the going gets tough. You’re with us in the good times …
What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” — the things God has prepared for those who love him — these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:9-10). Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord …
Patrick Smith - preaching for Sandyford-Henderson Memorial Church Glasgow Scotland https://youtu.be/XqAxGs4E93U
We;re drawing near to the end of the year. It's a time for looking back. It's, also, a time for looking forward. We look back, and what do we see? We see Jesus, We look forward, and what do we see? We see Jesus. A week before the new year begins, it will be Christmas, …
Continue reading Seeking for true happiness… and finding it in our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ
There are plenty of people who say, "We live by sight, not by faith." They say that they will not believe what they cannot see. When we seek to point them in the direction of the way of faith, it seems that there can be no shifting them. They've made up their mind, and they …
Continue reading “We live by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7).
"Cast your cares (or your burden) on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken" (Psalm 55:22). This is a real word from the Lord. It's a word that we need to hear, over and over again. Things get on top of us. We fall down, and we feel …
Continue reading The strength that comes to us from the Lord
"Christ's love compels us" (2 Corinthians 5:14). What is it that compels God's faithful servants to keep on preaching God's Word? It's the love of Christ. We're not always faithful servants. Sometimes, we forget our Lord. We become preoccupied with other things. We get distracted. We lose our focus. What does the Lord do when …
Continue reading Our Saviour shows his love to us so that we might share his love with others.
"But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:13-14). God is calling us on into his future. It is a future of becoming more like Jesus. It …
Continue reading God is calling us on to his future. Let us press on into his future.
Sometimes, life doesn't turn out the way we had hoped it would. Life can take surprising turns, even shocking turns. What are we to do? Are we to give up? Can we possibly keep on going? When life takes a turn for the worse, we need to remember the words of 2 Corinthians 12:9, "My …
Continue reading The grace of God – this is what picks us up when we’re falling down.
2 Chronicles 29:1-31:1; 2 Corinthians 1:12-22; Psalm 103:13-22 A revival of worship does not come from the worshippers. It comes from the God whom they worship – “what God had brought about for His people” (2 Chronicles 29:35b-36). “It is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ” (2 Corinthians 1:22). If …
Here are some great words from Jim Elliot, an American missionary who died at the hands of Auca Indians in Ecuador in the 1950s – “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” * "To gain what he cannot lose" - Eternal life has lasting value. * "what …
Continue reading “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”
"I am the good shepherd" (John 10:11). "The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing" (Psalm 23:1). I lack nothing - God has given us a full salvation. It's a salvation that covers our past, our present and our future. -- We begin by emphasizing that God's salvation covers our past. "He makes me lie …
2 Chronicles 31:2-33:20; 2 Corinthians 1:23-2:11; Proverbs 21:5-16 “With us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles” (2 Chronicles 32:8). The battle will not be easy. “Satan” is seeking to “outwit us” (2 Corinthians 2:11). Nevertheless, “we are not unaware of his schemes” (2 Corinthians 2:11). In our spiritual …
Continue reading The Lord our God is with us – to help us and to fight our battles.
Isaiah 20:1-23:18; 2 Corinthians 11:1-15; Proverbs 22:7-16 The people of God live in a situation of conflict. We are at war with the enemy. Nevertheless, we need not be afraid. The enemies of the Lord will be brought to nothing: “Babylon has fallen, has fallen! All the images of its gods lie shattered on the …
Continue reading The enemies of the Lord will be brought to nothing.
Isaiah 20:1-23:18; 2 Corinthians 11:1-15; Proverbs 22:7-16 The people of God live in a situation of conflict. We are at war with the enemy. Nevertheless, we need not be afraid. The enemies of the Lord will be brought to nothing: “Babylon has fallen, has fallen! All the images of its gods lie shattered on the …
Continue reading The enemies of the Lord will be brought to nothing.
“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all” (2 Corinthians 13:14). We have often heard these words spoken. Here, we are reading them in the Word of God. How often do we think about these words? What do they mean? …
Continue reading More than words to be said and heard at the end of a church service
"But if I say, 'I will not mention his word or speak anymore in his name,' his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot" (Jeremiah 20:9). When the going gets tough, what is it that keeps the …
Micah 1:1-4:13; 2 Corinthians 4:1-18; Psalm 104:31-35 “All the nations may walk in the names of their gods; we will walk in the Name of the Lord our God for ever and ever” (Micah 4:5). This is the kind of commitment the Lord is looking for. We commit ourselves to Him not for our benefit …
Continue reading The grace that is reaching more and more people
Isaiah 14:1-16:14; 2 Corinthians 9:6-15; Psalm 106:1-15 Christ came to destroy the evil one, Satan – to bring him “down to the grave, to the depths of the pit” (Isaiah 14:12-14). Satan seeks to impoverish our lives. God, however, is very different. He gives us His “surpassing grace.” This is given to us in His …
Micah 1:1-4:13; 2 Corinthians 4:1-18; Psalm 104:31-35 “All the nations may walk in the names of their gods; we will walk in the Name of the Lord our God for ever and ever” (Micah 4:5). This is the kind of commitment the Lord is looking for. We commit ourselves to Him not for our benefit but for …
"The glory of the Lord settled down on Mount Sinai" (Exodus 24:26). "The glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle" (Exodus 40:34-35). From the revelation of God's glory in the Old Testament, we move on to the revelation of God's glory in Jesus Christ: "God, who said, let there be light in the darkness, has …
2 Chronicles 26:1-28:27; 2 Corinthians 1:1-11; Psalm 103:1-12 “In his time of trouble King Ahaz became even more unfaithful to the Lord” (2 Chronicles 28:22). Times of trouble can lead people towards bitterness and further rebellion against the Lord. On the other hand, times of trouble can be precisely the times when God’s purpose is …
"Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?’ Jesus replied, ‘Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfil all righteousness.’ Then John consented" (Matthew 3:13-15). "Therefore, …
"When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day" (Deuterinomy 8:10). When the Lord has blessed us, let us not forget to give …
Continue reading May we keep on praising the Lord and giving thanks to him.
"No one pours new wine into old wineskins... They pour new wine into new wineskins” (Mark 2:22). In John's Gospel, we read about Jesus turning water into wine (chapter 2), and, then, we read about Jesus, telling Nicodemus that he needed to be "born again" (John 3:3). Here, he speaks about new wine. He's telling …
Continue reading God has given us new life. Let us live the new life.
Jesus said to them, "Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old" (Matthew 13:52). When teachers of the law become disciples of Jesus, there is a definite change …
2 CORINTHIANS 1:1-2:11 - Times of trouble can turn out to be times of great blessing - ‘God… comforts us in all our affliction’ (1:3-4). Whether good things or bad things are happening to you, don’t forget this: God loves you. His Word is ‘not Yes and No’ - ‘Yes, I love you. No, I don’t love …
Continue reading Times of trouble can turn out to be times of great blessing.
Wisdom Seeker
Following Jesus while Seeking Joy and Contentment in the Christian Life
In The Beginning Man Tried Ascending To Heaven via The Tower Of Babel. Now He Tries To Elevate His Existence To A Heavenly State of Consciousness Thru The Use Of Hallucinogenic Drugs. And, Since The 20th Century, He Continually Voyages Into Outer Space Using Spacecrafts. Prayer Thru Christ Is The Only Way To Reach Heaven.
On writing, books, tech, and faith
There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn’t true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true. —Soren Kierkegaard. "...truth is true even if nobody believes it, and falsehood is false even if everybody believes it. That is why truth does not yield to opinion, fashion, numbers, office, or sincerity--it is simply true and that is the end of it" - Os Guinness, Time for Truth, pg.39. “He that takes truth for his guide, and duty for his end, may safely trust to God’s providence to lead him aright.” - Blaise Pascal. "There is but one straight course, and that is to seek truth and pursue it steadily" – George Washington letter to Edmund Randolph — 1795. We live in a “post-truth” world. According to the dictionary, “post-truth” means, “relating to or denoting circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief.” Simply put, we now live in a culture that seems to value experience and emotion more than truth. Truth will never go away no matter how hard one might wish. Going beyond the MSM idealogical opinion/bias and their low information tabloid reality show news with a distractional superficial focus on entertainment, sensationalism, emotionalism and activist reporting – this blogs goal is to, in some small way, put a plug in the broken dam of truth and save as many as possible from the consequences—temporal and eternal. "The further a society drifts from truth, the more it will hate those who speak it." – George Orwell “There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn’t true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true.” ― Soren Kierkegaard
Debra Pedrow: Christian Author and Blogger
Loving Jesus, Encouraging Believers
Jesus answered and said to her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water." John 4:10
Curating a Life in Christ
Encouragement for your walk with Christ
Your Weekday Gospel Reflection
To honor and encourage
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
WEEKLY THOUGHTS FROM NEAL, GARY, DALE, CARL, AND BRENT
Praise 2 Worship exists to encourage us to enter deeply into worship and experience what it means to give Jesus all our praise.
Encouraging Grandfathers & Future Grandfathers
This is a Ministry of Oasis Bible Ministry, a Fundamental Full-Gospel Bible Teaching Ministry
With God, Change Is Possible!
"She can be silent because she has much to say and has learned through it all that deep silence speaks." ~ Richard Wurmbrand
Bread from Heaven, Fresh from God's oven!
...daily devotions to inspire intimacy with God
www.instructionstoayounglife.com on How to Live Life to the Fullest.
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. ~ Psalms 119:105
A daily dose of encouragement from God's Word
Discussing books - theological, historical, and biblical - from a Reformed Christian perspective...
Providing tools for Christian Living
Cultivating curiosity about faith in order to root deeper in Christ and flourish for Christ.
Thoughts and Ideas that Inspire
LOVE for God through Jesus Christ in a Creative way.
Bible Study, Biblical Principles for 21st Century
Biblical study, scholarship, theology, and archaeology from an equalitarian point of view
Jesus Is Coming Back!
Luke 9:23-24 23 And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. 24 For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it.
Daily inspirational insight and revelations to start your day and offer hope, comfort and assurance in God.
shared perspectives of Orthodox Christian beliefs - www.alphaomegaportal.org
It's Time to Get Back Up On Your Feet
Scattering the Seeds of God's Word
...your daily dose of wisdom from the word
"Share the goodness of God every moment you get"
walking by faith and not by sight
"© Christian National Church Of Christ"
Open Your Bible
A Place of Rest and Encouragement
Jesus is not a religion but a relationship with God
Learning From God's Word 