“Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.” (Luke 24:49, NKJV) Jesus spoke these words to His disciples during the forty days between His resurrection and the day He was caught up to heaven. During the time He spent with them, He spoke of “the things pertaining to the kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3). Although they had been with Him during His years of ministry, there was still so much for them to learn and understand. When those gathered in the Upper Room were filled with the Spirit, they received this promised power. Power to see miracles happen (Mark 16:17-19) Power for witnessing (Acts 1:8) Power greater than our timidity or fear (II Timothy 1:7) Power that works within us (Ephesians 3:20) Power to live a godly life with excellence (II Peter 1:3) Power to abound in hope (Romans 15:13) Resurrection power (Romans 8:11) This kind of power does not come from our own ability. It only comes from the Spirit of God dwelling inside and empowering us. God is the source of our power. “But we have this treasure in jars of…

“Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.” (Acts 17:11, ESV) I planted a small tree today, but I know it will never grow any taller or develop any fruit. Fertilizing and pruning won’t help it grow. It’s fake. I was tired of trying to keep something growing in an empty spot by my house. Then I had a crazy thought. I’ll buy a fake tree and place it there. Unless someone stands close or touches it, they will never realize the difference. It will look real—at least from a distance. While my little deception with the fake tree (or faux as the ad read) is harmless, it caused me to think of the precautions I routinely take to protect myself from fraud. I have alerts on my credit cards, am cautious about clicking any online links, and screen calls from unknown phone numbers. I installed virus protection on my computer and a camera doorbell for home security. I realize how smooth some cons are, so I try to stay vigilant to protect myself from scams. This same caution must…

And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.” (I Samuel 17:33, NKJV) The Philistine giant Goliath made an imposing sight. His height (over nine feet), his armor (125 pounds), his spear as large as a weaver’s beam, and his defiant roar caused an entire army to cower on their side of the mountain. How could one man, even though he was a huge man, cause an entire army to tremble? Had we been there, I’m sure none of us would have wanted to go one-on-one with him either. But David was willing. Perhaps even eager! The cause was worth the fight. How did the two combatants compare? Goliath was bigger—much bigger. He was also older and meaner. He had been a man of war for several years, so he was an experienced fighter. He had a reputation that brought fear. David was the youngest of his family, a teenager, and a shepherd boy. He owned no armor and had no military training. Yet he was fearless and did not cower at the giant’s roar. His youth…

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10, ESV) God was very intentional when He made us. It did not happen by accident or chance. He was careful, deliberate, purposeful in making each of us into a beautiful creation. The New Living Translation uses the word masterpiece, which speaks of the high quality of His workmanship. Workmanship: the quality imparted to a thing in the process of making. Masterpiece: a work done with extraordinary skill. Something (as a work of art) that is a great achievement and often its creator’s greatest achievement. (Merriam-Webster Dictionary) God put a lot of thought into our creation. He lovingly shaped each of us into a unique, one-of-a-kind individual and gifted us with special talents and abilities. Psalm 139:14 says: “I will praise you because I have been remarkably and wondrously made. Your works are wondrous, and I know this very well.” (CSB) If God was intentional in making us—and He was—then we must intentionally live to fulfill His intended purpose for our lives. We cannot allow ourselves to drift through life without discovering that divine plan. It is…