"with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." - Ephesians 4:2-3 (NKJV)What is the opposite of love? Most people say hatred. They are wrong. The opposite of love is not hatred. It is indifference. Apathy. Hatred, as wrong and destructive as it is, at least acknowledges the other person exi...  Read More

"Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up." - 1 Corinthians 13:4 (NKJV)We almost always share 1 Corinthians 13 at weddings. While it fits there, it is far more applicable to the local church and to each of us as believers living out our faith in community with each other.Paul makes it clear in that chapter that without love, no matter what el...  Read More

"Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle (KJV says 'meek') and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." - Matthew 11:29 (NKJV)We tend to look at meekness as weakness. But meekness is not weakness. Meekness is strength under control.I want you to picture a powerful stallion who has never been raised domestically. Wild and free, running wherever he wants. That looks l...  Read More

"For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith." - Romans 12:3 (NKJV)Humility is not thinking less of yourself. It is thinking of yourself less. And it is not talking down about yourself either. It is talking accurately about yourself.We can ha...  Read More

"I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called." - Ephesians 4:1 (NKJV)When looking at Ephesians from a bird's-eye view, you can see something interesting. The first three chapters focus on a believer's WEALTH in Christ. The last three chapters focus on the believer's WALK in Christ. Ephesians 1-3 is about our RICHES in Christ. Ephesia...  Read More

We sing about the blood of Jesus because that is how we are made acceptable to a holy God. We who place our trust in what Jesus did on the cross are not punished for our sin. God no longer sees our sin. He sees the innocent blood of our mighty Savior. What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.Oh, precious is the flow that...  Read More

1 Peter 1:17 says, “And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear.”  This third antidote to foolish living is to have a healthy fear of the Lord. We should conduct our lives with a sense of fear. This word “fear” should not be taken to mean “fright” or “terror.” Certainly those are ideas t...  Read More

1 Peter 1:17 reads, “And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work…” Peter tells his readers that God is not only their heavenly Father. He is also an impartial Judge. God sees everything that you do. People often don't mind saying, "God is my Father," and don't mind saying, "Jesus is my savior," but they don't want to think about the idea that God is a ...  Read More

Did you ever waste time or money when you were younger? I can remember wasting so much time, especially when school was out for the summer. I can remember asking my dad or mom for money to spend on something they thought was frivolous. I can remember asking, “Dad, can I have this?” His response was usually the same each time, which was, "Money doesn't grow on trees." My job was to ask for somethin...  Read More

1 Peter 1:14–16 – “14as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy.’”I remember taking my boys to a restaurant, and as I was up walking around getting some food, somebody called me over by name. They said, "Josh," and I looked and r...  Read More

1 Peter 4:12–13 (NKJV)12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. These verses were written during a time of persecution for the first-century believer. Peter is in Rome a...  Read More

1 Peter 1:13–16 (NKJV) – “13Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy....  Read More