Paul's letter to the Ephesians teaches powerful truths: That we are only saved through Christ, Who then gives us full access to the Father and makes us part of HIs "house". He calls us to build up our personal temple, and for the Church to be strong in Him. So we have to look at the current state of our spiritual house, assess Who and what we are u…

Just like the prophet Jeremiah, we live in a time when truth is opposed and altered. For him, it was false prophets who convinced the people that his message from the Lord was false, and that they wouldn't face discipline for their calloused rebellion. For us, we have to resist the narcissistic thinking that God should tolerate sin and do everythin…

To help us evaluate the genuineness of our faith and relationship with the Lord, He gives us a distinctive contrast in Jeremiah 17 regarding the source of our trust. Those who trust in mankind and themselves--the lie culture gives us--not only ultimately fail, but they are cursed because pride and man's plans are unstable and futile. But trusting i…

Because the enemy is constantly trying to breed instability in our lives, it is vital we develop consistent, foundational pillars to help offset that. Being faithful and dependable is undervalued in our culture, but spiritually, it is vital for our faith and is blessed by the Lord. When we are confident in our Biblical convictions, it prevents comp…

It is a remarkable concept that the God of the universe, Who we offended with our sin, would even think about us, let alone "long to be gracious" to us and "wait to have compassion" on us. But that's the reality of HIs mercy. And it should cause us to long for Him, not just because there is no one and nothing that compares to Him, but because He pr…

When Paul wrote to the Philippians, he urged them to have a nonconformist mindset by looking at Jesus' example of humility and sacrifice. He summed it all up in one phrase: "For me, to live is Christ". When the purpose of our lives as believers is to have Him at the center, it will be unmistakably obvious to those around us and they will be drawn t…

When a woman with a rough past came and worshipped Jesus in a unique way, some were appalled, but Jesus commended her for her sacrifice. Her actions reflected Paul's words in Philippians 3, when he described all his personal and spiritual accomplishments as rubbish compared to knowing Christ. Keeping an acute awareness of what Jesus has done for us…

Knowing we need wisdom more than anything, we still have important needs in our life. In the case of Bartimaeus, a blind beggar in Jericho, it was to receive his sight. But his desperate cry to Jesus for mercy reveals that he recognized Jesus first as Messiah, and also that he was asking with bold, active faith. The fact that Jesus stopped and help…

Money, relationships, jobs, health--they all cause stress and worry. But the Bible tells us that the answer is not more resources or relief from these issues--it is wisdom...which is a full understanding of God's heart, commands and leading. That seems odd because wisdom isn't tangible, but the Lord promises it will bring security, confidence and p…

We live in a time of pervasive and intrusive technology that "knows" everything about us. Rather than panic or give in to this, we need to be reminded that the Lord truly knows us--and especially His children--far more than a camera. He knows our thoughts and scrutinizes our lives to give us strength and encourage us to trust and take refuge in His…

After the fall of man, there was a group of people who "began to call on the Name of the Lord". This has always been the true heritage of God's people, and yet, especially the American Church in 2024 shows little interest or practice or prayer. We may think it makes no difference, or feel embarrassed, but a lack of prayer will only limit us from ex…

When we go through very difficult times, it is easy to wonder why the Lord is allowing it, or to even question His faithfulness--even when there has been abundant evidence of His kindness and help before. When Israel was "trapped" between the Red Sea and Egyptian armies, the Lord called them to move ahead in faith. It's a reminder that He defends u…

As we walk intentionally in this new life in Christ, we must not only "walk worthy of the Lord, pleasing Him in every way", but we also must be encouraging each other to do the same. Even while in jail, the apostle Paul had co-labourers who stepped up to faithfully serve in simple ways, with the mindset of a bondservant. This greatly encouraged Pau…

Two of our high school graduates who are called by the Lord powerfully share what the Lord has been teaching them. Matthew Rhoads shares from James 1 about trusting the Lord at all times, even in trials, and as the passage says, "taking control of your joy". Nicolas Lopez talks from Acts 4 about the need to disciple others in the fullness of God an…

Often, we can become "frustrated" with the Lord when we face unhappiness or difficulty. We may see Him as unfair, simply because we don't understand or agree with His will. So the apostle Paul gives us 5 basic instructions at the start of Colossians 4, designed to keep us in the right mindset and also equip us for evangelism and discipling others. …

As a new creation in Christ, living sacrificially under Christ's Lordship, our relationships can't be selfish anymore. Sin, pride, and indifference can hinder us from being humble selfless, which is critical for us to be like Christ. It also greatly improves the relationships of husbands and wives, parents and kids, and servants and masters. When w…

As we weigh the amazing work Christ has done to redeem us, and the calling to live as a new creation in Christ, it's important to ask: "How does the Lord want me to live?" Love requires sacrifice, so if we love the Lord, how does that show in consistent and practical ways? In Colossians 3, the apostle Paul calls us to 10 specific actions that will …

Because Jesus has saved us from death to life, and is now our Lord and the Head of our lives, our old life has absolutely no place in anything we do as believers. So the Lord gives us the imperative direction to "put to death" and deprive sin of having any power. He says they can become idols to us. So we have to resist justifying impurity and vola…

One of the dangers the young Colossian believers faced was the influence of Judaizers, who wanted to pull them into legalism. So Paul warns them, and us, that being proud and "puffed up" in our mind draws attention away from Jesus, Who is the Head of our lives and the Church. When we understand the characteristics and practical control of our physi…

When all of our focus is on Jesus, confidence replaces doubt and we find strength in His work and assurances instead of fearing our circumstances. In the middle of Colossians 2, Paul makes a statement that calls us to be staggered by the transcendence of the Lord, Who still came here as one of us to save us. Through 10 astounding actions, Jesus mak…

The battle for people's minds is pervasive--and increasingly, that involves a strong cultural opposition to Jesus and His Word, as well as those who believe in both. Throughout history, man has offered self-centered philosophies to address the spiritual need within, but they all fall short. But Colossians says that "in Christ are hidden all the tre…

After Paul reminds the Colossian believers of the awesome reality of Christ's work, he then calls them to boldly live as those who are no longer alienated from God and marked by sin. He establishes the need and expectation to continue on to maturity, "firmly established and steadfast, not moving away from the hope of the Gospel". Our effectiveness …

As believers, it can be all too easy to take for granted what Jesus has done for us, rather than being amazed every day. Paul was concerned that the Colossians might be prone to do that, so he focuses right at the start on the fact that Jesus has rescued us from the pit of sin, redeemed us by buying us and forgiving us, relocated us from the domain…

In his most Christ-centered letter, the apostle Paul teaching young believers how to live because of what Jesus has done. Because the message of the Gospel is most effective when given by people whose faith and love is open and obvious, Paul calls believers to assess how faithfully we are living for Christ. We need to be filled with Him, pleasing H…

Very few of us enjoy waiting and being patient, because we want our way and get frustrated when people and circumstances get in our way. But how do we respond when the Lord causes the delay? Multiple times after the Resurrection, Jesus told the disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit. Those 50 days were valuable, as they learned to wait and pray, The…

Mankind tends to view hope as wishing for something with some degree of uncertainty, but the Bible defines it as "joyful and confident expectation". That all centers on the resurrection of Jesus Christ. But in the aftermath of the cross, Jesus' disciples lost hope, and were depressed...to the point that at first, they didn't believe the news that t…