Jesus’ last words on the cross were, “It is finished.” What was finished? His sacrifice was payment for our sins so He could extend mercy to us instead of justice. Justice is getting what we deserve. The Apostle Paul writes in Romans 6:23For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God …
Failure can be an unpleasant experience, but also a learning experience. Failure can be humbling and can lead us to be more teachable. Sometimes, we won’t listen to anyone because we are puffed up with pride and think we know better. When failure comes, we begin to realize we were wrong. Maybe you are like …
I remember hiking in the Rocky Mountains and each of us had to carry heavy backpacks. Over time, the back packs seemed to get heavier and heavier and were quite burdensome. It would have been a lot easier on this trip if I was dressed more like a distant runner with light weight clothes and …
Shame is defined by Merriam-Webster as a painful emotion caused by consciousness of guilt, shortcoming, or impropriety.[1] Guilt results from knowing that we have done something wrong, but shame tells us we are something wrong. When shamed we think we are not worthy and have trouble accepting forgiveness. Andrew Comiskey describes shame like this: “Shame …
People that build us up are especially important on our life journey. They are interested in us when others may not be. They inspire us when we feel like giving up and listen when we just need someone to talk to. If you have had someone like that in your life, you have been blessed. …
Have you ever experienced God’s intervention? What were some ways the Lord has intervened in your life? Where do you need God’s intervention today? As we read the Scriptures, we discover that God is a God of Intervention. Here are just a few stories you may be familiar with. God intervened and saved the life …
In the middle of a story about healing, Jesus inserts an unexpected comment. Matthew 8: 11 I say to you that many Gentiles will come from east and west, and will sit down to feast at the table, and enjoy God’s promises with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven because they accepted Me as Savior, 12 while the sons and heirs …
I remember meeting a man several years ago who was suffering from stage four cancer. At this time, he was expected to live less than one year. His life as he knew it would never be the same. There would be no more days of going to work and routine activities that had filled his …
A Roman Centurion, or officer commanding a hundred men, came to Jesus with a request for healing for a sick servant. Jesus graciously offers to go to physically lay hands on the sick man. But the Centurion has a surprising answer: Matthew 8: 8 But the centurion replied to Him, “Lord, I am not worthy to …
Matthew 8: 5 When Jesus returned to Capernaum, a Roman officer came and pleaded with him, 6 “Lord, my young servant lies in bed, paralyzed and in terrible pain.”7 Jesus said, “I will come and heal him.” What do you think about when you see the word healed? The word Jesus uses for “heal” is translated from the Greek word therapeuo. This …