God’s love–when we focus on it and what it means, we begin to change. We change from our old selves to our new. And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind… Read More
Ephesians 1:19-23 No power is exempt from His rule
God’s word: FIRST in creation CONTINUAL through the Bible and the Holy Spirit FINAL when He will come and judge the living and the dead Ephesians 1:19-23 (New Living Translation) I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that… Read More
Daily moving to maturity
You’ve received Christ, and all your sins are covered under the blood of Jesus. Now it’s time to get on with your new life—shape up or ship out! Ouch! We can’t only address our behavior: Behave right! Look right! Act right! We need more than a surface cleaning–we need transformation. The whole gospel deals with… Read More
Old and New Testament Thinking
Remember the Sunday School song: “Zacchaeus was a wee little man, a wee little man was he. He climbed up in a sycamore tree for the Lord he wanted to see…” What’s the significance of the sycamore tree? A sycamore tree produces figs, but they are such poor quality that they aren’t eaten by people… Read More
Colossians 2:9-10 Ultimate Ruler
Our God reigns. Colossians 2:9-10 (New Living Translation) For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. 10 So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority. Colossians 2:9-10 (The Message) Everything of God gets expressed in him [Christ], so… Read More
Colossians 2:9-10 One God in three persons
Father, Son, Holy Spirit — One God “But I have a greater witness than John—my teachings and my miracles. The Father gave me these works to accomplish, and they prove that he sent me. And the Father who sent me has testified about me himself. You have never heard his voice or seen him face to… Read More
Aggressively forgiven
. . . if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help! I realize that I don’t have what it takes. I can will it, but I can’t do it. I decide to do good, but I don’t really do it; I decide not to do bad, but… Read More
