What David said was overheard and reported to Saul, and Saul sent for him. 1 Samuel 17:31, NIV. A few days ago I was talking with one of my best friends about the power of God creating an opportunity for us, rather than creating an opportunity for ourselves. We live in a world of self-promotion and self-serving people, but Jesus did not come to earth to be served, but to serve (Matthew 20:28). To serve is opposed to what the world teaches. I used to think that King David presented himself before Saul to fight Goliath. I thought David requested…
“On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’” (John 20:19, ESV) Life sometimes takes unusual twists and turns that cause us to question just what is happening in our lives. How can things change so quickly? This is no doubt how the disciples felt after the death of Jesus. How quickly their world was turned upside down, leaving them confused and uncertain. John 20:19 is part of a passage of scripture which tells of events following the resurrection of Jesus. Suddenly, life as the disciples knew it no longer existed. For over three years they had walked and talked with Jesus. Their hearts were stirred as they heard His teachings and saw Him perform the miraculous. Now? Now they were hiding, locked in with their fears and uncertainty. Where should they go? What should they do? Then Jesus stepped into the locked room. “Peace be with you.” Yes, peace was exactly what His disciples needed. His presence in their midst and the words He spoke allowed them to look to…
“A dispute also arose among them [the disciples], as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest.” (Luke 22:24, ESV) Ambition. Egos. Competition. Power. Pride. It happens. We’ve seen it, but we would hardly expect to find it among the Lord’s disciples, those closest to Him. Yet, more than once they disputed among themselves about who was the greatest. Even the night of their Passover meal, just hours before Jesus’ arrest, the argument began again. Did they even grasp the meaning of Jesus’ words when He told them: “For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves.” (Luke 22:27, ESV) The Gospels do not gloss over the rivalry that seemed to exist among the disciples. It’s written there for all of us to read. Nor was this the first time the subject had arisen. In Matthew 20 the mother of James and John came requesting that her sons to be given positions of power when Jesus came into His kingdom. The other disciples became indignant at her request. Although Jesus explained true greatness,…
The power of ONE voice—to an audience of ONE. We are well familiar with the third book of the New Testament, the Gospel of Luke. But who was Luke? He certainly was not one of The Twelve. Though he likely had a close relationship with at least some of His eyewitnesses, it’s very possible that he never even met Jesus. Luke was a Greek physician, thought to be the only Gentile writer of Scripture. There is still some disagreement, but it’s now believed that Luke was likely Jewish, perhaps a convert, who became a Christian. He was certainly a friend…
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” (James 1:17, NKJV) Who doesn’t like to receive gifts? I sure do. It’s fun to be remembered on special occasions—or no occasion. A friend, who has been a frequent visitor in my home, likes to surprise me with some small gift that I find after she has gone. It isn’t lavish, just a little something that says, “I’m thinking about you and appreciate our friendship.” I love her surprises. They brighten my day. When I think about all the gifts I have received in my life, which have been many, I cannot overlook the ones I have received from my Heavenly Father. I serve a generous God Who loves to give gifts. Let me share a few things God’s Word tells us about these blessings from above. The greatest gift God bestows upon us is when He saves us and fills us with the gift of His Spirit. “For John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” (Acts 1:5, NKJV)…
“There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” (Proverbs 12:18, ESV) “Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.” (Proverbs 16:24, ESV) The two proverbs above give a sharp contrast in how our words affect others. Reckless words can be like sword thrusts that cut deep and leave scars? Our gracious and kind words are sweet like honey. Often, we do not realize the effect of our words on another. But we should. Why would Solomon compare kind, gracious words to honey? It’s more than just its sweetness. Honey also contains healing properties. In fact, you may have used honey for its soothing benefits yourself. Have you ever put honey in a cup of tea when you had a bad cough and cold? It’s soothing. According to the Mayo Clinic, honey does possess some medicinal benefits. “In addition to its use as a natural sweetener, honey is used as an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antibacterial agent. People commonly use honey orally to treat coughs and topically to treat burns and promote wound healing” (https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-honey/art-20363819). (The article does caution to never to give honey to…