Intentional Faith

In the Life of Christ There is a striking moment early in Mark’s Gospel that I think we can read too quickly. Jesus enters the synagogue at Capernaum, teaches with an authority unlike that of the scribes, and suddenly a man with an unclean spirit cries out. Mark 1:24 records the spirit saying, “What do You have to do with us, Jesus—Nazarene? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the…

As the Day Begins “He hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame.” — Ephesians 1:4 There is something wonderfully stabilizing about beginning the day with the realization that God’s attention toward us did not begin this morning. Before we opened our eyes, before we faced today’s responsibilities, before we succeeded or failed at anything,…

Heaven Most of the things we do for people we love are not done because we expect something in return. A soldier running through gunfire to rescue a wounded friend is probably not thinking about medals. A mother sitting beside a sick child at three in the morning is not calculating what she will receive for losing sleep. Love has a way of making reward secondary. That helps us understand the…

May the Lord bless your spiritual walk today and draw you into a deeper awareness of His presence. The God who began His good work in you remains faithful to continue shaping, teaching, correcting, strengthening, and completing what He has begun. Today’s spiritual disciplines invite us to live with eternity in view while allowing Scripture to guide the ordinary decisions of the day. When God…

As the Day Ends “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” — Romans 14:12 There is something about evening that naturally invites accounting. The workday closes. Conversations are over. Decisions have been made. Words cannot be taken back, and opportunities that belonged to today are now becoming part of yesterday. Romans 14:12 asks us to look even farther ahead: “Each of us…

DID YOU KNOW The Bible is filled with images drawn from everyday life: shepherds, vineyards, storms, mountains, fire, water, kings, armies, harvests, birds, bread, and even clouds. God does not communicate in abstractions alone. He speaks in ways people can see in their minds. That becomes especially interesting in passages such as Isaiah 19. Israel lived among nations with their own stories,…

On Second Thought “I cried out to the Lord because of my affliction, and He answered me. Out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and You heard my voice.” — Jonah 2:2 One of the most persistent lies sin tells us is that it can be contained. We tell ourselves that a private decision is private, that a hidden habit affects only us, that one act of rebellion can be isolated from the rest of life.…

The Bible in a Year “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.” — Jeremiah 8:20 There is something haunting about that sentence. Jeremiah is not describing a minor disappointment. He is looking at a people who have watched one opportunity after another pass by while still assuming that somehow everything would work out. Jerusalem was under threat from Babylon, yet many of…

In the Life of Christ Luke does something interesting before John the Baptist ever begins preaching. He gives us names. Important names. Tiberius Caesar. Pontius Pilate. Herod. Philip. Lysanias. Annas. Caiaphas. These were the people who occupied the political and religious structures of authority in John’s day. If you had asked the average person where something important was likely to happen,…

As the Day Begins “May He strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all His holy ones.” — 1 Thessalonians 3:13 There are some people whose presence changes a room without them ever trying to do so. They do not announce their spirituality. They do not need to tell you how long they have prayed, how much…

Heaven — The God Who Delights to Reward His Children There is something wonderfully personal about the New Testament teaching on heavenly rewards. Scripture does not picture God as a distant accountant keeping a cold ledger of religious accomplishments. Instead, again and again, Jesus speaks of a Father who sees. He sees the gift nobody applauded. He hears the prayer nobody else knew you prayed.…

May the Lord bless your spiritual walk today and draw you steadily into His presence. Scripture reminds us that the God who begins His work within us is also faithful to carry it forward. As you move through today’s spiritual disciplines, may each reflection deepen your trust, sharpen your discernment, and strengthen your desire to walk faithfully with Christ. When the Father Says, “I Saw That” —…

As the Day Ends “Then Jesus said to them, ‘I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?’” — Luke 6:9 As this day ends, there is value in asking not only what we did, but why we did it. We can pray, read Scripture, attend worship, serve others, and still allow our hearts to become distant from the God those practices are meant to draw us…

DID YOU KNOW “My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.” — Proverbs 1:10 Did You Know that temptation becomes sin only when desire is welcomed and embraced? James 1:12–16 gives us one of Scripture’s clearest descriptions of how temptation works. James does not say that being tempted makes us guilty. He says that each person is tempted when he is “drawn away by his own desires and enticed.”…

On Second Thought “My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.” — Proverbs 1:10 There is something compelling about the language of spiritual battle. Scripture itself uses it. Paul speaks of armor, warfare, endurance, and standing firm. We are told to resist the devil, remain alert, contend for the faith, and refuse the enticement of sin. James tells us plainly that temptation is real and that…

The Bible in a Year “Thus says the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.” — Jeremiah 4:3 If you have ever watched a farmer prepare a field that has been sitting untouched for a while, you know that planting does not begin with seed. It begins with disturbance. The soil may look peaceful, but underneath the surface it has become packed and…

In the Life of Christ “His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’” — John 2:5 What we truly believe eventually shows up in the way we live. We may say that we trust God, but trust becomes visible when life puts something beyond our control. That is one reason I love the account of the wedding at Cana in John 2:1–12. Before Jesus ever healed a blind man, walked on water, fed…