We are all children of God. We have not only a divine heritage but also a divine potential. An awareness of that fact can give us confidence as we navigate the challenges of life, confidence that our Heavenly Father loves us and wants to bless us.
No Respecter of Persons
God doesn't show favoritism. The Greek word prosopolemptes means literally "countenance-taker." The word appears in our Bible as "respecter of persons." God doesn't favor people based on worldly measures of success—and neither should we.
Psalm 22 and the Crucifixion
From the cross, Jesus cried out the first words of a psalm: "My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?" This cry of pain also carried a message of hope: The words of the psalm were being fulfilled, and the psalm itself promised that God had heard Him.
“None of Them Is Lost”
Jesus's mission is to save everyone who is willing to be saved.He told the men who arrested Him to let the apostles go, thus fulfilling His promise to the Father to lose none. We can follow His example by helping everyone belong and flourish.
“I Will Not Abandon You as Orphans”
I was recently reflecting on John 14:18 and as I dug into other translations, I was captivated with the variety of terms used for “comfortless”. Considering the different translations together added depth of understanding and a new appreciation for this passage. King James Version: I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. New... Continue Reading →
The Eleventh Hour
One message of the Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard is that it's never too late for us. God is not only willing to bless us, He is eager to do so. He loves us and delights in extending grace to us, especially when we don't think we deserve it.
Rivers of Living Water
Jesus testified that He is the source of "living water," which is the love of God. When we come to Him, He not only quenches our thirst, He also makes it possible for us to share that living water with others.
Not to Condemn
When we see imperfections in ourselves or in others, we have two choices: We can condemn, or we can forgive. God sent Jesus Christ to save us, not to condemn us. We can follow His example by looking to the future instead of dwelling on the past.
“My Beloved Son”
When our Father in Heaven has introduced Jesus Christ, He has consistently called Him, "my Beloved Son." We can follow this example by expressing love for our family members regularly.
Emmanuel
The author of Psalm 46 wants us to know that God is not a distant and detached monarch. He is very much involved in our lives, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." We may be surrounded by turmoil. "The waters" may "roar and be troubled," and "the mountains" may "shake," but the author... Continue Reading →