Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]… – Hebrews 12:2, Amplified Bible (AMP) A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, I heard… Continue reading Keep your eyes on the trapeze bar.
Category: Temptation
The wilderness has its benefits.
Then Jesus was led (guided) by the [Holy] Spirit into the wilderness (desert) to be tempted (tested and tried) by the devil. – Matthew 4:1, Amplified Bible (AMP) The idea of “wandering in the wilderness” doesn’t gin up happy thoughts. Instead, it usually produces thoughts of pain, anguish, and despair. It was in the wilderness… Continue reading The wilderness has its benefits.
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.
Sometimes, people die early for a very good reason.
The righteous man perishes, and no one lays it to heart; and merciful and devout men are taken away, with no one considering that the uncompromisingly upright and godly person is taken away from the calamity and evil to come [even through wickedness]. He [in death] enters into peace… – Isaiah 57:1-2, Amplified Bible I’ve lived enough life to have seen… Continue reading Sometimes, people die early for a very good reason.
Stop the nastiness at its source.
Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. – Proverbs 4:23, KJV There have been more movies released than I care to count that have the following plot: stop a deadly disease from spreading before it destroys the world. In such movies, the protagonists scramble feverishly to isolate… Continue reading Stop the nastiness at its source.
In your next shootout with Satan, make sure you have the right kind of bullets.
Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee. – Jude 1:9, KJV Have you ever watched an old Western movie where the hero of the movie faces the villain in a good old-fashioned,… Continue reading In your next shootout with Satan, make sure you have the right kind of bullets.
God doesn’t care how strong you are in your faith, there could come a time when you doubt Him.
And when they saw Him, they fell down and worshiped Him; but some doubted. – Matthew 28:17, Amplified Bible Evangelist Ron Comfort founded Ambassador Baptist College in 1989. Early in the college’s ministry, a gentleman named Ken Love, now in Heaven with The Lord, served alongside Dr. Comfort. A former missionary to Brazil and father… Continue reading God doesn’t care how strong you are in your faith, there could come a time when you doubt Him.
Be careful about thinking the grass is always greener on the other side.
In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem of Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, his wife, and his two sons. – Ruth 1:1, Amplified Bible When things get tough, it is very tempting to bail out of our… Continue reading Be careful about thinking the grass is always greener on the other side.
When you are coming down from the mountaintop, be ready for a fight.
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities… – 2 Corinthians 12:10, King James Version (KJV) My friend Mike recently became an ordained minister. Within days, the joy of this milestone was overcome by fear and struggle. With no warning, Mike began suffering from high blood pressure and chest pains, causing his doctor to put him on… Continue reading When you are coming down from the mountaintop, be ready for a fight.
Please don’t ignore God’s gift while you are making your way to the fridge.
Because he preferred to share the oppression [suffer the hardships] and bear the shame of the people of God rather than to have the fleeting enjoyment of a sinful life. – Hebrews 11:25, Amplified Bible (AMP) I was at the gym, acting like I wanted to lose weight. As part of the ruse, I hopped… Continue reading Please don’t ignore God’s gift while you are making your way to the fridge.