Punishment is one of the greatest forms of love.

And I [now] announce to him that I will judge and punish his house forever for the iniquity of which he knew, for his sons were bringing a curse upon themselves [blaspheming God], and he did not restrain them. – 1 Samuel 3:13, Amplified Bible (AMP) Most people have a natural desire to be liked… Continue reading Punishment is one of the greatest forms of love.

Moses said, “I’m a failure. Just kill me.”

And if this is the way You deal with me, kill me, I pray You, at once, and be granting me a favor and let me not see my wretchedness [in the failure of all my efforts]. – Numbers 11:15, Amplified Bible (AMP) There are times when serving The Lord just wears you out. You’re… Continue reading Moses said, “I’m a failure. Just kill me.”

To stay or not to stay? That is the question.

And Moses said [to the Levites, By your obedience to God’s command] you have consecrated yourselves today [as priests] to the Lord, each man [at the cost of being] against his own son and his own brother, that the Lord may restore and bestow His blessing upon you this day. – Exodus 32:29, Amplified Bible (AMP) Amy Carmichael spent… Continue reading To stay or not to stay? That is the question.

It’s time to ditch the “holier-than-thou” attitude.

You shall not wrong a stranger or oppress him; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. – Exodus 22:21, Amplified Bible (AMP) There is never a time when a Christian has a right to be spiritually arrogant. Unfortunately, many Christians are spiritually arrogant, and they’re much more prone to snub people trapped in… Continue reading It’s time to ditch the “holier-than-thou” attitude.

Sometimes things have to get worse before they get better.

And the foremen said to them, The Lord look upon you and judge, because you have made us a rotten stench to be detested by Pharaoh and his servants and have put a sword in their hand to slay us. – Exodus 5:21, Amplified Bible (AMP) After delivering God’s “Let my people go!” message to… Continue reading Sometimes things have to get worse before they get better.

How ’bout them Braves!

And Pharaoh took off his [signet] ring from his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand, and arrayed him in [official] vestments of fine linen and put a gold chain about his neck. – Genesis 41:42, Amplified Bible (AMP) It was the Fall of 1991. My roommates and I set up our television set, our… Continue reading How ’bout them Braves!

Hey, keep those petty arguments amongst yourselves.

…And if the world [itself] is to be judged and ruled by you, are you unworthy and incompetent to try [such petty matters] of the smallest courts of justice? – 1 Corinthians 6:2, Amplified Bible (AMP) Christians are commanded to do everything they do for the glory of God. The reason for this commandment is… Continue reading Hey, keep those petty arguments amongst yourselves.

Don’t twist God’s words to ease your conscience. It won’t get you anywhere.

Her prophets are light [lacking truth, gravity, and steadiness] and men of treachery; her priests have profaned the sanctuary; [defrauding God and man by pretending their own word is God’s word] they have done violence to the law. – Zephaniah 3:4, Amplified Bible (AMP) As we start out the New Year, we ought to make… Continue reading Don’t twist God’s words to ease your conscience. It won’t get you anywhere.

How would you like to be cursed by God?

Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord. – Jeremiah 17:5, Amplified Bible If you were to wake up tomorrow morning and wonder, “How could I make God curse me today?”, what do you think the answer would be?… Continue reading How would you like to be cursed by God?

Hey, take a minute to pick up your brother’s or sister’s backpack.

Bear (endure, carry) one another’s burdens and troublesome moral faults, and in this way fulfill and observe perfectly the law of Christ (the Messiah) and complete what is lacking [in your obedience to it]. – Galatians 6:2, Amplified Bible (AMP) In my younger years I was extremely judgmental. I had an arrogant, pious attitude towards… Continue reading Hey, take a minute to pick up your brother’s or sister’s backpack.