1 Thessalonians 3:12-13May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father. Jesus has taken it upon himself to make you holy. Think of it. One day you will be blameless. Clean, clear, and perfect. No tinge of guilt. No speck of shame. No condemnation. Utterly radiant. S...  Read More

1 Thessalonians 2:13And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. Why don’t we stand up on Sundays and read from Moby Dick or To Kill a Mockingbird? Because, although these books might be eloquent and full of insight, ul...  Read More

1 Thessalonians 1:5You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. When I was preparing to get married, somebody offered me some great perspective. They said, “You’re not just getting a wife, but giving a husband.” Wow. That was a paradigm shift. And it carries over into so many areas of life. I’m giving a mom, I’m giving a dad, I’m giving a role model, I’m giving a friend, I’m ...  Read More

Colossians 4:18I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. What a disturbing way to close a letter. Remember my chains. Sometimes (oftentimes) when a person’s pain is not our own, we forget. We have our own schedules and challenges. We get busy. So, another person’s troubles can easily fade – out of sight, out of mind. That’s why I appreciate Paul’s reminder. Each of us have...  Read More

Colossians 3:23Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men. Some people are waiting around for God’s will – loitering in their current context. Not sure if they’re in the right place, not certain if they’re doing the right thing. God’s will for their life seems like a misty fog. But verse 23 makes things a bit clearer. It simply says, “whatever you do” give it your all. Put you...  Read More

Philippians 4:11For I have learned in whatever situation, I am to be content. Have you ever gone shopping when you’re hungry? Bad idea!!! You can make some of the worst decisions when you are hungry because everything looks good! Same thing in life. You don’t want to go through life hungry. Hungry for love.Hungry for attention.Hungry for significance.Hungry for security.If you do you will make som...  Read More

Philippians 3:7Whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Before meeting Christ, Paul had what you would call resume righteousness. His accomplishments were impressive. And maybe yours are as well. Sometimes church is your resume. Sometimes your children are your resume. Sometimes how well you keep your house is your resume. This is resume righteousness. It’s the thought that m...  Read More

Philippians 2:8And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. This might be one of the most important texts on humility we could ever study. Our society stresses the concept of upward mobility. It’s the capacity to rise higher and higher in our social status. Keep stepping up! It’s the American way - achievement, advancement, su...  Read More

Philippians 1:12I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. Opposition never hinders the gospel! If anything, it only accelerates it. Think of communist China. China is officially an atheist country, yet it’s on course to be the world’s most populous Christian nation within 15 years. Chairman Mao wanted to eliminate religion, but isn’t it iro...  Read More

Ephesians 6:4Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Do you see the balance there? This verse calls for discipling your children without angering your children. Remember, children can get angry. So, we as parents, and especially as fathers, need to be careful of belaboring a point, getting riled up in the moment, or resorting...  Read More

Ephesians 5:3Sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Nine times Ephesians calls the church saints, which means the holy ones of God. Being Holy doesn’t just mean having elevated morality. The idea of being holy is that you’re different. That means special and set apart. It’s like your birthday. It’s a special day. Unlike any o...  Read More

Ephesians 4:15-16We are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. One body, many different parts. One church, many different people. Do you know we can be one and still be different? That’s the...  Read More