Friday, August 31 – Motives Then Jesus answered him, “What do you want Me to do for you?”—Mark 10:51 It is hard to believe that the Lord would ask us what He could do for us. However, sometimes that is the question we must answer. Bartimaeus was blind, and he …
Now everything is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. . . —2 Corinthians 5:18 The world abounds with people whose sin has alienated them from God. Christ’s sacrificial work has restored Christians to a love relationship with the heavenly Father. As Christians, we …
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may be repaid for what he has done in the body, whether good or bad.—2 Corinthians 5:10 There are many motivations in the Christian’s life. One is our awareness that one day we will give an …
. . . because a wide door for effective ministry has opened for me—yet many oppose me.—1 Corinthians 16:9 Open doors of service may also let in adversaries. Paul had many of both. As Paul wrote to the Corinthians from Ephesus, he was trying to determine where to go next. He chose to …
“For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”—Luke 14:11 There are two ways to attain high esteem. One is the world’s method: Take every opportunity to promote yourself before others; seize occasions for recognition and manipulate your way into the center …
Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise— making the most of the time, because the days are evil.—Ephesians 5:15–16 These days we are bombarded with opportunities that entice us to invest our time and energy. Each day the voices of urgency cry out …
A thief comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy. I have come that they may have life and have it in abundance.—John 10:10 Jesus warns us to be on guard for thieves who will try to rob us of what God has for us. Jesus wants us …
The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him— a Spirit of wisdom and understanding, a Spirit of counsel and strength, a Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.—Isaiah 11:2 Throughout His ministry, Jesus relied upon the Holy Spirit to direct Him as He made crucial decisions …
The Lord your God will drive out these nations before you little by little. You will not be able to destroy them all at once; otherwise, the wild animals will become too numerous for you.—Deuteronomy 7:22 When God led His people into the Promised Land, He did so step by …
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, because they will be filled.—Matthew 5:6 Hunger and thirst are the body’s way of telling us that we are “empty.” Our natural response to physical hunger and thirst is to seek food and water to satisfy our need. Each Christian has …
