Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Matt. 5:7-8

I am much too wrapped up in myself, too sensitive to the disapproval of others, two much focused on my own personal experience. I do not love others the way Christ does, and I am not so devoted to God that my heart is anything like pure. I do not have the mind of a servant. If I set these as my ends, I will fail. If I set as m… Continue

⁹"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. ¹⁰If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. ¹¹… Continue

To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Col. 1:27

The mystery is that Christ in us is the hope of glory. This glory is communion with God, which is not reserved for some future time, but rather can be experienced right now, today. "Christ in us" is the key to the abundant life that we live as Christians. The core of that life is relationship, because C… Continue

For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness,"made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. 2 Cor 4:6

God has replaced the darkness that was in our soul with His light. We know God through Jesus Christ. That knowledge transforms us through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

In the words of the hymn, "I want to walk as a child of the light."

Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! Rev. 19 6-7

God is making everything new in Christ. Our new lives in Him are the first fruits of the redemption of the entire world which will be accomplished when Jesus comes again in glory. He gives us forgiveness, freedom, comfort, hope, and joy. But the greatest joy is to praise Him.

We should live our lives in a manner which gives glory to… Continue

By this gospel you are saved ...1 Cor 15:2

The resurrection is central to the gospel. Christ died for our sins and was raised on the third day. Because Christ was raised, we can be assured that we will inherit eternal life. If Christ had not been raised, our faith would have no value.

Therefore Jesus is much more than an example to be emulated. He is the living Christ in whom we have relationship to God.

They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. Luke 24:2-3

The resurrection is central to our faith. Absent the resurrection, Jesus would be merely another good example. We would have no hope that God has dealt with our sins. With the resurrection, we have promise of new life in Christ.

We should embrace the new life that He gives us, and live boldly in it.

… Continue

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith -- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. Eph. 2:8

God loved us enough to adopt us. He bought us at great cost. He knows what we are like, now, but chose us anyway. More important, He knows what we will become. He has prepared a place for us.

Therefore, as we consider with regret the comfortable and familiar sins that we are giving up, we do so because they are alien to… Continue

Blessed is the king, who comes in the name of the Lord. Luke 19:38

When Jesus entered Jerusalem he came in humility, riding a donkey to symbolize peace; he came in compassion, weeping over Jerusalem; he came in judgment, driving the money changers out of the Temple. He displayed peace to the world, compassion for His people, and judgment upon the corrupt of religious practice.

We should energetically do the same. proclaim the good news… Continue