As the Day Ends “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.” — 1 John 3:16 As the day comes to a close, there are some truths that are easier to receive than to define. Love is one of them. We can describe love, analyze its effects,Continue reading “Love You Can Feel Before You Can Explain”
Tag Archives: Christian devotion
FALSE PRETENDERS
As the Day Begins “When the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.” — Matthew 19:22 There is something deeply revealing about the sorrow of the rich young ruler. He came to Jesus with outward success already in his hands. He had influence, morality, wealth, and the admirationContinue reading “FALSE PRETENDERS”
WHEN WORSHIP BEGINS WITH CLEAN HEARTS
The Bible in a Year “The priests and the Levites purified themselves, and purified the people, and the gates, and the wall.” — Nehemiah 12:30 When I read the dedication of Jerusalem’s wall in Nehemiah 12, I am reminded that spiritual victories are not meant to end in self-congratulation but in worship. The walls hadContinue reading “WHEN WORSHIP BEGINS WITH CLEAN HEARTS”
Morning of Recognition, Not Religion
As the Day Begins “By the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified…This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders.” — Acts 4:10–11 There is something sobering about realizing that people can be deeply religious and still miss God standing right in front of them. Israel had the Law,Continue reading “Morning of Recognition, Not Religion”
When Mercy Keeps Calling
The Bible in a Year “Yet he sent prophets to them, to bring them again unto the Lord; and they testified against them; but they would not give ear.” — 2 Chronicles 24:19 One of the most revealing truths about the human heart is how stubbornly it can resist God even while surrounded by HisContinue reading “When Mercy Keeps Calling”
When Ruin Meets Redemption
As the Day Begins “And so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” — Romans 5:12 There is something painfully honest about the Bible’s description of humanity. Scripture does not flatter us, excuse us, or pretend that our condition is better than it is. Paul writes in Romans 5:12 that sin enteredContinue reading “When Ruin Meets Redemption”
It’s For Your Own Good
As the Day Begins Moses stood before Israel near the end of his life and asked a question that still echoes into our mornings today: “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you?” (Deuteronomy 10:12). The answer was not complicated theology or unreachable spirituality. God desired reverence, obedience, love, and wholeheartedContinue reading “It’s For Your Own Good”
When the Bread Is Not the Point
On Second Thought There is a quiet tension that runs through the Gospel accounts, especially when I read Matthew 14:14–21 alongside John 6:26. On one hand, I see the compassion of Jesus as He feeds the five thousand—meeting a real, physical need. On the other, I hear His sobering words: “Most assuredly, I say toContinue reading “When the Bread Is Not the Point”
When the Bread Is Not the Point
On Second Thought There is a quiet tension that runs through the Gospel accounts, especially when I read Matthew 14:14–21 alongside John 6:26. On one hand, I see the compassion of Jesus as He feeds the five thousand—meeting a real, physical need. On the other, I hear His sobering words: “Most assuredly, I say toContinue reading “When the Bread Is Not the Point”
The Fragrance of Fellowship
Love That Begins at His Feet A Day in the Life “Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.” — John 12:3 I find myself drawn into this sceneContinue reading “The Fragrance of Fellowship”