God wants us to be truth seekers and that we should not spread false stories.

Thank you LORD for reminding that we must be truth seekers, and we should discern what is truth and what is false.  Please help me to be sensitive and careful, to avoid falsehoods, especially those spread in the internet and even by some misinformed believers.  Help me LORD to counter those falsehoods and to stay truthful and honest at all times. Thanks you LORD. 

Text:  Luke 1:1-4  New International Version

1 Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled[a] among us, 

2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. 

3 With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 

4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

SCRIPTURE INSIGHT

        [From ODB]   A woman once told me about a disagreement that was tearing her church apart. “What’s the disagreement about?” I asked. “Whether the earth is flat,” she said. A few months later, news broke of a Christian man who’d burst into a restaurant, armed, to rescue children supposedly being abused in its back room. There was no back room, and the man was arrested. In both cases, the people involved were acting on conspiracy theories they’d read on the internet.

        Believers in Jesus are called to be good citizens (Romans 13:1–7), and good citizens don’t spread misinformation. In Luke’s day, numerous stories circulated about Jesus (Luke 1:1), some of them were inaccurate. Instead of passing on everything he heard, Luke essentially became an investigative journalist, talking to eyewitnesses (v. 2), researching “everything from the beginning” (v. 3), and writing his findings into a gospel that contains names, quotes, and historical facts based on people with firsthand knowledge, not unverified claims.

        We can do the same. Since false information can split churches and put lives at risk, checking facts is an act of loving our neighbor (10:27). When a sensational story comes our way, we can verify its claims with qualified, accountable experts, being truth seekers—not error spreaders. Such an act brings credibility to the gospel. After all, we worship the One who’s full of truth (John 1:14). By Sheridan Voysey

[From Commentary]   Why do we have four gospels? Basically, each one presents a unique perspective on Jesus, and having more than one account adds to their credibility. The Holy Spirit inspired the writers to pen their accounts. Though the four books have many similarities, each author emphasizes a different theme for an intended audience. Matthew wrote mainly for Jews, emphasizing that Jesus, the son of David, was the Messiah for whom they were waiting. That’s why he began with a genealogy and includes multiple references to Old Testament prophecies fulfilled in Jesus. Mark emphasizes Jesus as the Suffering Servant of God. This was especially relevant to believers in Jesus who were suffering for their faith. Luke was written to Theophilus, a gentile. Luke presents Jesus as the Son of Man and Savior of all people. John presents Christ as the Son of God and Creator of the world.  by Alyson Kieda

[From me]  Thank you LORD for reminding that we must be truth seekers, and we should discern what is truth and what is false.  Please help me to sensitive and careful to avoid falsehoods, especially those spread in the internet and even by some misinformed believers. Help me LORD to counter those falsehoods and to stay truthful and honest at all times. Thanks you LORD. 

Posted May 31, 2023

The LORD came to bind up the brokenhearted

Thank you LORD that You came to bind up the  brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives, and to release from darkness for the prisoners.  That You LORD that You provide healing and freedom from the darkness of sin, from our spiritual death, You made us alive again, in the LORD.  Thank you LORD for giving us the same mandate - to help spread the gospel, and to heal the sick, and help bring about freedom to those who are enslaved to sin.  Thank You, Jesus, for the healing You’ve brought to me and many others. I look forward to complete healing in heaven one day.   Thank you LORD that You shall give me a  “a garment of praise and not a spirit of despair” (Isaiah 61:3).  I praise You, dear LORD. 

Text:  Isaiah 61:1-3  New International Version

The Year of the Lord’s Favor

1   The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,

    because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.

    He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives

    and release from darkness for the prisoners,

2   to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor

    and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn,

3   and provide for those who grieve in Zion—

    to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,  the oil of joy

    instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.

    They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.

SCRIPTURE INSIGHT

        [From ODB]    Always a busy guy, Carson hunted, fished, rode dirt bikes, and skateboarded. He loved everything outdoors. But he was in a motorcycle accident and became paralyzed from the chest down. Soon depression sank in, and he didn’t see much of a future. Then one day some of his buddies got him to go hunting again. For a time he forgot about his injury as he enjoyed the beauty around him. This experience brought him inner healing and inspired a new purpose for his life —  to provide the same experience for others like him through a nonprofit organization, Hunt 2 Heal. He says his accident was “a blessing in disguise. . . . Now I’m able to give back, which I’ve always wanted to do. I’m happy.” He’s excited about providing a place for those with severe mobility disabilities and their caregivers to find healing.

The prophet Isaiah foretold the coming of One who would bring healing for brokenness (Isaiah 61). He would “bind up the brokenhearted” and “comfort all who mourn” (vv. 1–2). After Jesus read this Scripture in His hometown synagogue, He said, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21). Jesus came to save us and make us whole.

Are you in need of inner healing? Turn to Jesus and He’ll give you “a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair” (Isaiah 61:3).   By Anne Cetas

[From Commentary]   The book of Isaiah, the longest in the Old Testament aside from the book of Psalms, breaks down into two major sections. Chapters 1–33 declare judgment upon Judah and the nations, with the promise of restoration included in the “warning” section. Chapters 34–66 focus on the restoration of Israel in the kingdom of the Messiah. Because of Isaiah’s heavy emphasis on the person and role of the Messiah, it’s often quoted in the New Testament as having been fulfilled in Jesus. Some scholars even refer to Isaiah as the “fifth gospel.” The book of Isaiah is quoted or alluded to at least sixty-two times in the New Testament. Today’s reading was quoted by Jesus in His synagogue message at Nazareth (Luke 4:17–19) when He publicly announced His messiahship.  by Bill Crowder

[From me]  Thank you LORD that You came to bind up the  brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives, and to release from darkness for the prisoners.  That You LORD that You provide healing and freedom from the darkness of sin, from our spiritual death, You made us alive again, in the LORD.  Thank you LORD for giving us the same mandate - to help spread the gospel, and to heal the sick, and help bring about freedom to those who are enslaved to sin.  Thank You, Jesus, for the healing You’ve brought to me and many others. I look forward to complete healing in heaven one day.   Thank you LORD that You shall give me a  “a garment of praise and not a spirit of despair” (Isaiah 61:3).  I praise You, dear LORD. 

Posted May 30, 2023

Thank you LORD for your many blessings.

Thank you LORD for all the many blessings that You have given me and my family. You are truly great, gracious and full of lovingkindness.  Help me to always cultivate a heart of gratitude.  Lord, You’ve been so good to me. I give thanks to You for the safe trip we had to and from Lobo, Batangas, and for the safe swim in the seas of Maila.  Thanks a lot, dear LORD.

Text:  Luke 17:11-19  New International Version

Jesus Heals Ten Men With Leprosy

11 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 

12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy[a] met him. They stood at a distance 

13 and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”

14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.

15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 

16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.

17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” 

19 Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

SCRIPTURE INSIGHT

[From ODB]  Hansle Parchment was in a predicament. He caught the bus to the wrong place for his semifinal in the Tokyo Olympics and was left stranded with little hope of getting to the stadium on time. But thankfully he met Trijana Stojkovic, a volunteer helping out at the games. She gave him some money to take a taxi. Parchment made it to the semifinal on time and eventually clinched the gold medal in the 110-meter hurdle. Later, he went back to find Stojkovic and thanked her for her kindness.

In Luke 17, we read of the Samaritan leper who came back to thank Jesus for healing him (vv. 15–16). Jesus had entered a village where He met ten lepers. All of them asked Jesus for healing, and all of them experienced His grace and power. Ten were happy that they’d been healed, but only one returned to express his gratitude. He “came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him” (vv. 15–16).

Every day, we experience God’s blessings in multiple ways. It could be as dramatic as an answered prayer to an extended time of suffering or receiving timely help from a stranger. Sometimes, His blessings can come in ordinary ways too, such as good weather to accomplish an outdoor task. Like the Samaritan leper, let’s remember to thank God for His kindness toward us.  By Poh Fang Chia

[From Commentary]  Luke 17:15 notes that only one of the ten lepers healed by Jesus returned to give thanks, and he was a Samaritan—a foreigner (v. 18). The word translated “foreigner” (allogenḗs) is a compound word that means “from another race.” Though it’s used a number of times in the Greek version of the Old Testament (the Septuagint), it’s used only here in the New Testament (see OT passages like Genesis 17:27; Exodus 12:43; Leviticus 22:10). The Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament notes that this is “the same term that appears on the inscriptions found on the balustrades surrounding the temple warning that ‘no alien’. . . may go beyond this point and will suffer the penalty of death if they are caught doing so.” While restricted by religious protocols from specific areas of the temple, those who were considered outsiders weren’t barred from God’s saving and healing mercy.  by Arthur Jackson

[From me]  Thank you LORD for all the many blessings that You have given me and my family. You are truly great, gracious and full of lovingkindness.  Help me to always cultivate a heart of gratitude.  Lord, You’ve been so good to me. I give thanks to You for the safe trip we had to and from Lobo, Batangas, and for the safe swim in the seas of Maila.  Thanks a lot, dear LORD.

Posted May 29, 2023

Let us pray to the LORD who comes to save us.

There are days when troubles, distress, sickness, calamities and problems come our way.  Thank you LORD for teaching us that the best way to face these challenges is to bow down to You in prayer and ask for your help, guidance and providence.  You are powerful and You are sovereign.  You are in full control. Help me to always focus on You and depend on you for the resolution of my sickness, problems and troubles. Thank You LORD for listening and responding to my prayers. I worship You.  You are the all-knowing, all-powerful God. Please help me in each challenge I face today.

Text:  2 Chronicles 20:1-12  New International Version

Jehoshaphat Defeats Moab and Ammon

1   After this, the Moabites and Ammonites with some of the Meunites came to wage war against Jehoshaphat.

2   Some people came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from the other side of the Dead Sea. It is already in Hazezon Tamar” (that is, En Gedi). 

3 Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. 

4 The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him.

5 Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of the Lord in the front of the new courtyard 

6 and said:

“Lord, the God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you. 

7 Our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? 

8 They have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary for your Name, saying, 

9 ‘If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.’

10 “But now here are men from Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, whose territory you would not allow Israel to invade when they came from Egypt; so they turned away from them and did not destroy them. 

11 See how they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession you gave us as an inheritance. 

12 Our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”

SCRIPTURE INSIGHT

[From ODB]   When my son needed orthopedic surgery, I was grateful for the doctor who performed the operation. The doctor, who was nearing retirement, assured us he’d helped thousands of people with the same problem. Even so, before the procedure, he prayed and asked God to provide a good outcome. And I’m so grateful He did.

Jehoshaphat, an experienced national leader, prayed too during a crisis. Three nations had united against him, and they were coming to attack his people. Although he had more than two decades of experience, he decided to ask God what to do. He prayed, “[We] will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us” (2 Chronicles 20:9). He also asked for guidance, saying, “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you” (v. 12).

Jehoshaphat’s humble approach to the challenge opened his heart to God’s involvement, which came in the form of encouragement and divine intervention (vv. 15–17, 22). No matter how much experience we have in certain areas, praying for help develops a holy reliance on God. It reminds us that He knows more than we do, and He’s ultimately in control. It puts us in a humble place—a place where He’s pleased to respond and support us, no matter what the outcome may be.  By Jennifer Benson Schuldt

[From Commentary]   When the people of ancient Israel thought about time, they reasoned that they couldn’t know the future, but they did know what had already happened and so reflected on God’s faithfulness in the past. That sense of time is key to understanding the way Jehoshaphat prayed in 2 Chronicles 20. He looked back at everything God did from Abraham until the present day (vv. 5–9). He recognized that the future wasn’t sure, but by setting “his face to seek the Lord” (v. 3 esv), he was looking to God’s salvation in the past as confidence in His ability to save again (v. 12).  by Jed Ostoich

[From me]  There are days when troubles, distress, sickness, calamities and problems come our way.  Thank you LORD for teaching us that the best way to face these challenges is to bow down to You in prayer and ask for your help, guidance and providence.  You are powerful and You are sovereign.  You are in full control. Help me to always focus on You and depend on you for the resolution of my sickness, problems and troubles. Thank You LORD for listening and responding to my prayers. I worship You.  You are the all-knowing, all-powerful God. Please help me in each challenge I face today.

Posted May 27, 2023

God will give us an incorruptible body that will last forever

All of us grow weary, we get sick, and we age.  Our bodies become sick, wracked with pain and aches.  While we live in this "tent", our human bodies, we groan and we are burdened because of the aches, pains, sickness and problems that we experience.  But we should rejoice because God will give us a heavenly body, an incorruptible body that is not subject to sickness, pain and aches, thirst or hunger. That body will last forever and will not die.  Lord, as I groan in a human body (I am now sick with cough and colds), I rejoice in the hope that someday You will give me an eternal, incorruptible body, a permanent dwelling place of my soul and spirit.   Dear LORD, thank You for Your wonderful promise.  When I’m physically uncomfortable, help me to trust You even as I anticipate an eternal dwelling that will last forever.

Text:  2 Corinthians 4:16-5:5   New International Version

16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 

17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 

18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Awaiting the New Body

1 For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 

2 Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, 

3 because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 

4 For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 

5 Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

SCRIPTURE INSIGHT

            [From ODB]     “The tent is tired!” Those were the words of my friend Paul, who pastors a church in Nairobi, Kenya. Since 2015, the congregation has worshiped in a tentlike structure. Now, Paul writes, “Our tent is worn out and it is leaking when it rains.”

My friend’s words about their tent’s structural weaknesses remind us of the apostle Paul’s words regarding the frailty of our human existence. “Outwardly we are wasting away . . . . While we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened” (2 Corinthians 4:16; 5:4).

Though the awareness of our fragile human existence happens relatively early in life, we become more conscious of it as we age. Indeed, time picks our pockets. The vitality of youth surrenders reluctantly to the reality of aging (see Ecclesiastes 12:1–7). Our bodies—our tents—get tired.

But tired tents need not equate to tired trust. Hope and heart needn’t fade as we age. “Therefore we do not lose heart,” the apostle says (2 Corinthians 4:16). The One who has made our bodies has made Himself at home there through His Spirit. And when this body can no longer serve us, we’ll have a dwelling not subject to breaks and aches—we’ll “have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven” (5:1).  By Arthur Jackson

[From Commentary]   The apostle Paul wrote four letters to the believers in Jesus at Corinth. The books known as 1 and 2 Corinthians are the second and fourth letters he wrote to the house churches there. Commenting on the background of 2 Corinthians, William Baker states: “Despite the fact that the earliest converts were Jewish (according to Acts 18:4–8), none of the issues Paul addresses in the letter appear to stem from Jewish-Christian controversies. Rather, all the issues derive from the Corinthian culture and society in which they lived.” Paul addressed issues that focused on what it means to live for Jesus within one’s own culture. He compared what Corinthian society did with how believers in Christ should live (see 1 Corinthians 6:12–13).  by J.R. Hudberg

[From me]  All of us grow weary, we get sick and we age.  Our bodies become sick, wracked with pain and aches.  While we live in this "tent", our human body, we groan and we are burdened because of the aches, pains, sickness and problems we experience.  But we should rejoice because God will give us a heavenly body, an incorruptible body that is not subject to sickness, pain and aches, or thirst or hunger. That body will last forever and will not die.    Lord, as I groan in a human body (I am now sick with cough and colds), I rejoice in the hope that someday You will give me an eternal, incorruptible body, a permanent dwelling place of my soul and spirit.   Dear LORD, thank You for Your wonderful promise.  When I’m physically uncomfortable, help me to trust You even as I anticipate an eternal dwelling that will last forever.

Posted May 26, 2023

God is trustworthy

We all experiences moments of doubts and unbelief.  When we are full of worries, or when we are in midst of troubles, poverty, sickness or need.  But we can always go back to the truth that God is faithful and He will do all that He promises in the Bible.  LORD, thank You for being trustworthy and keeping Your promises to me. Please help me to remember Your faithfulness as I trust and obey You each day.

Text:  Psalm 145:9-13   New International Version

9 The Lord is good to all;

    he has compassion on all he has made.

10 All your works praise you, Lord;

    your faithful people extol you.

11 They tell of the glory of your kingdom

    and speak of your might,

12 so that all people may know of your mighty acts

    and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.

13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,

    and your dominion endures through all generations.

The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises

    and faithful in all he does.

SCRIPTURE INSIGHT

[From ODB]  I’m a worrier. Early mornings are the worst because I’m alone with my thoughts. So I taped this quote from Hudson Taylor on my bathroom mirror, where I can see it when I’m feeling vulnerable: “There is a living God. He has spoken in the Bible. He means what He says and will do all He has promised.”

Taylor’s words came from years of walking with God and remind us of who He is and all He can do through our times of illness, poverty, loneliness, and grief. He didn’t merely know that God is trustworthy─he’d experienced His trustworthiness. And because he’d trusted God’s promises and obeyed Him, thousands of Chinese people gave their lives to Jesus.

Experiencing God and His ways helped David know that He’s trustworthy. He wrote Psalm 145, a song of praise to the God he’d experienced to be good, compassionate, and faithful to all His promises. When we trust and follow God, we realize (or understand better) that He is who He says He is and that He’s faithful to His word (v. 13). And, like David, we respond by praising Him and telling others about Him (vv. 10−12).

When we face worrisome times, God can help us not to falter in our walk with Him, for He is trustworthy (Hebrews 10:23). By Karen Huang

[From Commentary]   The book of Psalms, the hymnbook of the Israelites, is a collection of 150 songs that were sung by God’s people as part of their personal and corporate worship. Psalm 145 is the last psalm in the final collection of songs penned by David (see Psalms 138–145). In this song of praise, he proclaims God as “my God the King” (145:1). David speaks of His “majesty” (v. 5) and “goodness” (v. 7). He exalts God in his greatness, mentioning His “mighty acts” (v. 4), “awesome works” and “great deeds” (v. 6), and “abundant goodness” and “righteousness” (v. 7). David also praises the King’s attributes: He’s “gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. . . . He has compassion on all he has made” (vv. 8–9). He’s “trustworthy in all he promises” (v. 13) and “righteous in all his ways” (v. 17). Twice, David says God is “faithful in all he does” (vv. 13, 17).  by K. T. Sim

[From me]  We all experiences moments of doubts and unbelief.  When we are full of worries, or when we are in midst of troubles, poverty, sickness or need.  But we can always go back to the truth that God is faithful and He will do all that He promises in the Bible.  LORD, thank You for being trustworthy and keeping Your promises to me. Please help me to remember Your faithfulness as I trust and obey You each day.

Posted May 25, 2023

God does not want that we use our freedom to indulge in the desires of the flesh

God does not want that we use our freedom to indulge in the desires of the flesh and to live in sin.  Instead, God wants us to live simple, holy lives, dedicated to serve one another.  We should not nourish the "weeds" in our lives, which are practices that are sinful or that leads to sin.  Lord, sometimes I water the weeds in my life. Help me to instead experience being in step with You as You produce spiritual fruit in my life. Help me to focus always on You.  Praise God. 

Text:  Galatians 5:13-26  New International Version

Life by the Spirit

13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 

14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 

17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 

18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 

20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 

21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 

23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 

24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 

25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

SCRIPTURE INSIGHT

[From me]  This spring, weeds attacked our backyard like something out of Jurassic Park. One got so big that when I tried to pull it out, I feared I might injure myself. Before I could find a spade to whack it down, I noticed that my daughter was actually pouring water on it. “Why are you watering the weeds?!” I exclaimed. “I want to see how big it will get!” she replied with an impish grin.

Weeds aren’t something we intentionally nourish. But as I thought about it, I realized that sometimes we do water the “weeds” in our spiritual lives, feeding desires that strangle our growth.

Paul writes about this in Galatians 5:13–26, where he contrasts living by the flesh with living by the Spirit. He says trying to follow the rules alone won’t establish the kind of “weed-free” life we long for. Instead, to avoid watering the weeds, he instructs us to “walk by the Spirit.” He adds that being in regular step with God is what frees us from the impulse to “gratify the desires of the flesh” (v. 16).

It’s a lifelong process to fully understand Paul’s teaching. But I love the simplicity of his guidance: instead of growing something unwanted by nourishing our own self-focused desires, when we’re cultivating our relationship with God, we grow fruit and reap the harvest of a godly life (vv. 22–25). By Adam R. Holz

[From Commentary]  Several themes are evident in Galatians 5: freedom in Christ, living by love instead of the law, and the vital importance of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer in Jesus. Most critical of these is the role of the Holy Spirit. Without the Spirit we can’t enjoy our freedom, nor will we love others. We’ll instead demand our rights and “bite and devour each other” (v. 15). How are we to spurn our selfish ways? “Walk by the Spirit,” says Paul (v. 16). “If you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law” (v. 18). This is true freedom.  by Tim Gustafson

[From me]  God does not want that we use our freedom in indluge the desires of the flesh and to live in sin.  Instead, God wants us to live simple, holy lives, dedicated to serve one another. We should not nourish the "weeds" in our lives, which are practices that are sinful or that leads to sin.  Lord, sometimes I water the weeds in my life. Help me to instead experience being in step with You as You produce spiritual fruit in my life.

Posted May 24, 2023

Jesus is the chief cornerstone for building our lives.

LORD, you are the chief cornerstone of my life and of our church. On you alone, we align our life's activities, priorities and ministries. Help me LORD to always be focused on You, so that I dont build upon on my own efforts or dreams or ambitions or resources.   Let me rely only on You.  I praise You, Lord Jesus, for being the chief cornerstone. Only on You can Your church and my life stand.  Only You is the foundation of my life.  Praise be to our God. 

Text:   Psalm 118:13-14  New International Version

13   I was pushed back and about to fall, but the Lord helped me.

14 The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.

Text:  Psalm 118:22-29  New International Version

22 The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone;

23 the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.

24 The Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad.

25 Lord, save us! Lord, grant us success!

26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.  From the house of the Lord we bless you.

27 The Lord is God, and he has made his light shine on us.

    With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession

    up to the horns of the altar.

28 You are my God, and I will praise you; you are my God, and I will exalt you.

29 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.

SCRIPTURE INSIGHT

[From ODB]  The young campus minister was troubled. But he looked conflicted when I dared to ask if he prays . . . for God’s direction . . . for His help. To pray, as Paul urged, without ceasing. In reply, the young man confessed, “I’m not sure I believe anymore in prayer.” He frowned. “Or believe that God is listening. Just look at the world.” That young leader was “building” a ministry in his own strength and, sadly, he was failing. Why? He was rejecting God.

Jesus, as the cornerstone of the church, has always been rejected—starting, in fact, with His own people (John 1:11). Many still reject Him today, struggling to build their lives, work, even churches on lesser foundations—their own schemes, dreams, and other unreliable ground. Yet, our good Savior alone is our strength and defense (Psalm 118:14). Indeed, “the stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone” (v. 22).

Set at the vital corner of our lives, He provides the only right alignment for anything His believers seek to accomplish for Him. To Him, therefore, we pray, “Lord, save us! Lord, grant us success!” (v. 25). The result? “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord” (v. 26). May we give thanks to Him because He’s strong and good.  By Patricia Raybon

[From Commentary]  What is a “cornerstone” (Psalm 118:22)? Since early times, it’s been the principal stone placed at the corner of a building that formed its base. Once it was set, it determined every measurement in the construction of the edifice. Everything was aligned to it. As the chief cornerstone, Jesus is the foundation on which the church is built, and His people are to align with Him. He’s “a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation” (Isaiah 28:16). With Him, we become “fellow citizens with God’s people” and “members of his household built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets” with Christ as our chief cornerstone (Ephesians 2:19–20). We’re His holy temple, and His Spirit lives in us (vv. 21–22). If we trust in Him, “we will never be put to shame” (1 Peter 2:6). by Alyson Kieda

[From me]  LORD, you are the chief cornerstone of my life and of our church. On you alone, we align our life's activities, priorities and ministries. Help me LORD to always be focused on You, so that I dont build upon my own efforts or dreams or ambitions.  

I praise You, Jesus, for being the chief cornerstone. Only on You can Your church and my life stand.  Only You is the foundation of my life. 

Posted May 23, 2023

Do not think on how to satisfy the desires of the flesh.

The apostle Paul acknowledged that, as humans, we have the propensity to sin even after we’ve come to Christ.  That’s why he warns us to “put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light”.  He said “Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ,” the apostle says, “and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh” (Romans 13:14). The only effective way to neutralize our obsession with sin is to replace our selfish desires with a craving for Christ.  LORD, help me to fight the urges to sin, to satisfy the lust of the flesh, and help me to always focus on You.  Thank you LORD. 

Text: Romans 13:11-14 New International Version

The Day Is Near

11 And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 

12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 

13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 

14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.

SCRIPTURE INSIGHT

[From ODB]  Augustine’s autobiographical Confessions describes his long and winding journey to Jesus. On one occasion, he was riding to the palace to give a flattering speech for the emperor. He was fretting over his deceptive applause lines when he noticed a drunken beggar “joking and laughing.” He realized the drunk already had whatever fleeting happiness his shifty career might bring, and with much less effort. So Augustine stopped striving for worldly success.

But he was still enslaved by lust. He knew he couldn’t turn to Jesus without turning from sin, and he still struggled with sexual immorality. So he prayed, “Grant me chastity . . . but not yet.”

Augustine stumbled along, torn between salvation and sin, until finally he had enough. Inspired by others who had turned to Jesus, he opened a Bible to Romans 13:13–14. “Let us behave decently . . .  not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality . . . . Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.”

That did it. God used those inspired words to break Augustine's chains of lust and brought him “into the kingdom of the Son . . . in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:13–14). Augustine became a bishop who remained tempted by fame and lust, but he now knew whom to see when he sinned. He turned to Jesus. Have you?  By Mike Wittmer

[From Commentary]  Paul’s warning here is a tacit acknowledgment of our propensity to sin even after we’ve come to Christ. That’s why he warns us to “put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light” (Romans 13:12). The passage is reminiscent of another of Paul’s letters in which he refers to putting on armor. There he writes, “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes” (Ephesians 6:11). 

In both passages, the strong implication is that temptations will inevitably come, and we must supplant those sinful desires by following Jesus unreservedly and completely. “Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ,” the apostle says, “and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh” (Romans 13:14). The only effective way to neutralize our obsession with sin is to replace our selfish desires with a craving for Christ.  by Tim Gustafson

[From me]  The apostle Paul acknowledged that, as humans, we have the propensity to sin even after we’ve come to Christ.  That’s why he warns us to “put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light”.  He said “Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ,” the apostle says, “and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh” (Romans 13:14). The only effective way to neutralize our obsession with sin is to replace our selfish desires with a craving for Christ.  LORD, help me to fight the urges to sin, to satisfy the lust of the flesh, and help me to always focus on You.  Thank you LORD. 

Posted May 21, 2023

God is faihtful and He provides for His people.

Lord, you were faithful and compassionate to the Hebrew people that you provided them food from heaven, manna and meat, for 40 years while they were in the desserts. Lord, thank you that you have provided for me and my family, food and our basic needs, for the past 40+ years as well.  You have proven Yourself as faithful to me and my children.  LORD, help me to remember always your past providential help and help me to take You at Your word and to trust You with everything.

Text:  Exodus 16:21-30  New International Version

21 Each morning everyone gathered as much as they needed, and when the sun grew hot, it melted away. 

22 On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much—two omers[a] for each person—and the leaders of the community came and reported this to Moses. 

23 He said to them, “This is what the Lord commanded: ‘Tomorrow is to be a day of sabbath rest, a holy sabbath to the Lord. So bake what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil. Save whatever is left and keep it until morning.’”

24 So they saved it until morning, as Moses commanded, and it did not stink or get maggots in it. 

25 “Eat it today,” Moses said, “because today is a sabbath to the Lord. You will not find any of it on the ground today. 

26 Six days you are to gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will not be any.”

27 Nevertheless, some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather it, but they found none. 

28 Then the Lord said to Moses, “How long will you refuse to keep my commands and my instructions? 

29 Bear in mind that the Lord has given you the Sabbath; that is why on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days. Everyone is to stay where they are on the seventh day; no one is to go out.”

30 So the people rested on the seventh day.

SCRIPTURE INSIGHT

[From ODB]  Aunt Margaret’s frugality was legendary. After she passed away, her nieces began the nostalgically bittersweet task of sorting her belongings. In a drawer, neatly arrayed inside a small plastic bag, they discovered an assortment of small pieces of string. The label read: “String too short to use.”  

What would motivate someone to keep and categorize something they knew to be of no use? Perhaps this person once knew extreme deprivation.

When the Israelites fled slavery in Egypt, they left behind a life of hardship. But they soon forgot God’s miraculous hand in their exodus and started complaining about the lack of food.

God wanted them to trust Him. He provided manna for their desert diet, telling Moses, “The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day” (Exodus 16:4). God also instructed them to gather twice as much on the sixth day, because on the Sabbath no manna would fall (vv. 5, 25). Some of the Israelites listened. Some didn’t, with predictable results (vv. 27–28).

In times of plenty and times of desperation, it’s tempting to try to cling, to hoard, in a desperate attempt at control. There’s no need to take everything into our own frantic hands. No need to “save scraps of string”—or to hoard anything at all. Our faith is in God, who has promised, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).  By Tim Gustafson

[From Commentary]  About a month after the Israelites left Egypt (Exodus 16:1), they ran out of food (v. 3). God provided them with “bread from heaven” (v. 4) in the morning and “meat to eat in the evening” (v. 8). Not knowing what this bread was, they asked, “What is it?” (v. 15). They called it “manna” (v. 31) because it sounded like the Hebrew for “What is it?” Manna consisted of “thin flakes,” was “white like coriander seed” (an herb), and “tasted like wafers made with honey” (vv. 14, 31). Numbers 11:8 says that “it tasted like something made with olive oil.” by K. T. Sim

[From me]  Lord, you were faithful and compassionate to the Hebrew people that you provided them food from heaven, manna and meat, for 40 years while they were in the desserts. Lord, thank you that you have provided for me and my family, food and our basic needs, for the past 40+ years as well.  You have proven Yourself as faithful to me and my children.  LORD, help me to remember always your past providential help and help me to take You at Your word and to trust You with everything.

Posted May 20, 2023

God commanded us to love one another

God has commanded us to love one another, not only in words, but in action and in truth. We are to give selfless love to someone who is in need.  Lord, help me to express my love for you by expressing my love to someone selflessly this week.  Loving Father, please help me see people with a heart ready to extend compassion and selfless love wherever You send me.

Text:  1 John 3:11-18  New International Version

More on Love and Hatred

11 For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 

12 Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous. 

13 Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters,[a] if the world hates you. 

14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death. 

15 Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.

16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 

17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 

18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

SCRIPTURE INSIGHT

[From ODB]  While waiting for a train at a station in Atlanta, Georgia, a young man wearing dress pants and a button-down shirt sat on a bench. As he struggled with his tie, an older woman encouraged her husband to help. When the elderly man hunched over and began teaching the young man how to knot the tie, a stranger took a photo of the trio. When this photo went viral online, many viewers left comments about the power of random acts of kindness.

For believers in Jesus, kindness to others reflects the self-sacrificing care that He showed for people like us. It’s an expression of God’s love and what He desired His disciples to live out: “We should love one another” (1 John 3:11 emphasis added). John equates hating a brother or sister to murder (v. 15). Then he turns to Christ as an example of love in action (v. 16).

It doesn’t have to be an extravagant display of sacrifice. Selfless love simply requires us to acknowledge the value of all God’s image-bearers by placing their needs above our own . . . every day. Those seemingly ordinary moments when we care enough to notice the needs of others and do what we can to help are selfless when we’re motivated by love. When we see beyond our personal space, step out of our comfort zones to serve others, and give—especially when we don’t have to give—we’re loving like Jesus.  By Xochitl Dixon

[From Commentary]  Jesus spoke a new commandment to “love one another” (John 13:34). This command is actually “an old one” (1 John 2:7), for God had commanded every Israelite to “love [their] neighbor as [themselves]” (Leviticus 19:18). The “new” commandment raised the bar to the highest standard of love: “As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (John 13:34). The apostle John here reminded believers to model this sacrificial love of Jesus—“Jesus Christ laid down his life for us” (1 John 3:16). True love is sacrificial giving and spontaneous generosity (v. 17). John exhorts us to be loving in our speech and in our actions (v. 18). Such love is the clearest evidence that one has new life (v. 14) and “is a child of God” (4:7 nlt); anyone who “does not love does not know God, for God is love” (v. 8 nlt). K. T. Sim

[From me]  God has commanded us to love one another, not only in words, but in action and in truth. We are to give selfless love to someone who is in need.  Lord, help me to express my love for you by expressing my love to someone selflessly this week.  Loving Father, please help me see people with a heart ready to extend compassion and selfless love wherever You send me.

Posted May 19, 2023