"Be angry, and do not sin. Do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil." (Ephesians 4:26-27)Not all anger is sinful. Paul acknowledges that. There is a righteous kind. In the Gospels, Jesus drove the money changers out of the temple at least twice, and the Bible describes Him as angry. He saw the corruption, everyone making money off God's people who were just trying to w...  Read More

"Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption." (Ephesians 4:29-30)That word "corrupt" comes from the same root we use for rotten fruit, rotten vegetables, spoiled food. A corrupt word pollutes. This warning can be applie...  Read More

"Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need." (Ephesians 4:28)When we steal, it is a sin, and we give the devil access to our lives. We often justify it in our own minds. A few examples are all it takes, and most of us will start squirming a little. We steal when we take what doesn't belong t...  Read More

"Therefore, putting away lying, 'Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,' for we are members of one another." (Ephesians 4:25)When Paul says "putting away lying," the Greek carries a definite article. It doesn't say lying. It says THE lie. That changes everything. The lie Paul is pointing to is this: your life is no different from the unsaved person you claim you're no longer like. The ...  Read More

Matthew 5:12 - "Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."Jesus says, "Rejoice and be exceedingly glad." That may not make sense to us. How in the world are we supposed to rejoice when we're being persecuted? Let me tell you why.First, rejoice because you have the opportunity to show the sincerity of your faith. Do...  Read More

"But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers." - 1 Peter 4:7 (NKJV)I love the Summer Olympics, especially track and field, since I used to run track. What's the most exciting moment of any race? The last 20, 40, 50 yards toward the end. The athletes are at full stride, pushing themselves to the limit with everything they have, finishing with complete pur...  Read More

“If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.” (Romans 12:18)I love how honest this verse is. “If it is possible…” Sometimes, even when you do everything right, peace doesn’t come quickly. Even Jesus—perfect love in human flesh—had opponents. So Scripture says, “as much as depends on you.” In other words, be faithful to your part. Do what a peacemaker does. Take the i...  Read More

"As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God... that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen." - 1 Peter 4:10-11 (NKJV)With the end in mind, we must serve where God has gifted us. We can't do everything, but we must use what God has given us. Peter says G...  Read More

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." - 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV)C.H. Spurgeon would personally interview new converts or those interested in membership. Instead of just coming forward like people do today, he would talk to each person individually during the week, ask questions, and decide whether to accept or r...  Read More

“For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.” (1 Timothy 2:5)If we’re going to be peacemakers, we need a clear view of the ultimate Peacemaker. On one side stands holy God; on the other, sinful humanity. The gulf is real, and it is wide. We cannot get to Him; we cannot make ourselves worthy. But Jesus - fully God, fully man - steps in as the Mediator. He takes ...  Read More

"Jesus answered and said to him, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.'" (John 3:3)Have you ever wondered why some people can look at a sunset and see only colors and clouds, while others see the signature of God? The difference isn't in what they're looking at, but in how they see. Jesus told Nicodemus: "Unless one is born again, he cannot see ...  Read More

"Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31, NKJV)When Jesus says, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness," He's talking about holy living. Let me tell you about three different levels of holy living.The first level is like when you discipline children. You teach them right from wrong by saying, "If you do this wrong thing, y...  Read More