“Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48) Perfection. When I say the word, another quickly comes to mind: impossible. While I may be blind to some of my faults, I recognize enough of my shortcomings to realize that I am a long way from achieving perfection. That realization causes me to wonder if God is commanding me to be something that may be impossible to achieve. THE KEY TO PERFECTION Perfection does not come from our own efforts. It is not within our power to attain this alone. Job said, “If…
“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” (Psalm 56:3, ESV) Many people find storms frightening, and rightly so. They can exert tremendous force, resulting in great damage. Those living in coastal areas soon learn the dangers of hurricane season, while those in “tornado alley” keep an eye on the sky. Residents of storm-prone areas learn how to prepare and when to seek safety. Sometimes, however, the storm strikes unexpectedly, catching those in its path unawares. Mark 4:37-39 recounts a time when the disciples were caught in a life-threatening storm. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. (ESV) STORMS CAN BRING FEAR Storms are noisy. The roar of thunder and raging winds cause us to fear. The disciples had sailed those same waters much of their lives, yet they became fearful as the storm’s fury erupted. They…
And Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the blind man said to him, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.” And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way. (Mark 10:51-52, ESV) The beggar’s story The beggar sitting in the roadside dust was blind, but he heard the noise of a crowd approaching. When he asked what was happening, someone nearby told him, “It’s Jesus of Nazareth,” That was a name Bartimaeus recognized and he desperately began calling out for mercy. Perhaps more than others in the crowd, Bartimaeus possessed a spiritual insight of who Jesus was. Addressing Him as the “Son of David” shows he recognized Jesus was more than just a traveling preacher. He understood that Jesus was the promised Messiah. When Jesus heard Bartimaeus calling out, the Lord asked, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man replied, “Let me recover my sight.” He didn’t want pity. He didn’t ask for money. He was desperate for his sight to be restored, and that is what Jesus did. He healed his vision. Verse 52…
“When the Israelites set up camp, each tribe will be assigned its own area. The tribal divisions will camp beneath their family banners on all four sides of the Tabernacle, but at some distance from it.” (Numbers 2:2, NLT) In my Bible reading, one of the things I have noticed is the precision, the attention to detail, in everything God does. The pieces all fit together in a well-designed and orderly plan. Every element matters. We see an example of this in Numbers 2. There is nothing haphazard or random in the way God instructed the Israelites to set up their…
“Behold, the days come saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord” (Amos 8:11). Each year millions die from hunger and malnutrition. While most of us are not personally affected by it, we have seen photos and heard stories of extreme conditions in many parts of the world. There are numerous causes including poverty, war, natural disasters, and political instability. It’s difficult for those of us who have ample food to comprehend these extreme conditions. The statistics are heartbreaking. Available but Ignored But what is described in Amos 8 is not a shortage of food. It’s a famine of hearing the Word of God. How do we comprehend that, especially those of us who are blessed with religious freedom and who often own numerous Bibles? (Have you counted those in your home—four, eight, a dozen or more?) God’s Word is also found on numerous Bible apps and can be read in many languages. Yet most of those Bibles remain unread. A famine of the Word really does exist today, but this famine is not caused by scarcity.…
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (II Corinthians 5:17, NKJV) How much of our lives are controlled by habits? Probably more than we think. Whether we admit it or not, most of us are creatures of habit. A habit is a pattern of behavior that we develop by repetition. We have certain things we do each day or at certain times. Some of these are good habits, while others may not be so good. HEALTHY HABITS Because it is important to take care of my body, I have developed some habits that I feel are healthy. I brush and floss my teeth. I start my day with breakfast, take a multi-vitamin, and fasten my seatbelt. Yes, I will admit some habits are not as healthy, but let’s not talk about skipping exercise and eating junk food. You have your own routines and habits as well. Perhaps you rise early for a morning jog, drink a healthy smoothie for breakfast, or treat yourself to a fancy coffee on the way to work. The word habit is not found in the King James Bible, although some versions do use it.…