The tongue is a small thing, but what enormous damage it can do. A great forest can be set on fire by one tiny spark. The tongue can corrupt the whole body, sets the whole course of your life. It is written, “As I live,” says the Lord, […]
Numbers 22:29 Balaam said, “Because you’ve been playing games with me! If I had a sword I would have killed you by now.” The donkey saved Balaam’s life but made him look foolish in the process, so Balaam lashed out at the donkey. We sometimes strike out at […]
Matthew 5:4 “You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.” Jesus began his Sermon on the Mount with words that seem to contradict each other. God’s way of living often […]
Go ahead and be angry. You do well to be angry–but don’t use your anger as fuel for revenge. And don’t stay angry. Don’t go to bed angry. Ephesians 4:26 The angry man is compared to a ship sent into the sea, which hath the devil for its […]
“You’re familiar with the command to the ancients, ‘Do not murder.’ I’m telling you that anyone who is so much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder. Carelessly call a brother ‘idiot!’ and you just might find yourself hauled into court. Thoughtlessly yell ‘stupid!’ […]
Proverbs 9:6 Don’t stay unsure of yourself, but live! Walk in the way of understanding!”
In our time something new has been added. What Moses and the prophets witnessed to all those years has happened. The God-setting-things-right that we read about has become Jesus-setting-things-right for us. And not only for us but for everyone who believes in him. For there is no difference […]
“Do you see what I’ve done? I’ve refined you, I’ve tested you like silver in the furnace of affliction. There’s more to come.” We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, Day […]
Don’t love the world’s ways. Don’t love the world’s goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world–wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important–has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates […]
Psalm 73:21 At one time my heart was sad and my spirit was bitter. Never forget where you came from. The day you do you start heading back there. Not all of my drinking and using life were doom and gloom. I had some really good times and […]
