MONDAY MEDITATION: Shaking Up the Present (March 20)

When they came up out of the water, the Lord’s Spirit suddenly took Philip away. The eunuch never saw him again but went on his way rejoicing. Philip found himself in Azotus. He traveled through that area, preaching the good news in all the cities until he reached Caesarea. — Acts 8:39-40 A great deal of …

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MONDAY MEDITATION: Letting Jesus Applaud (March 13)

If you bring your gift to the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift at the altar and go. First make things right with your brother or sister. — Matthew 5:23-24 “Revenge fantasies” is a genre of movies that features an over-the-top bad guy getting a really …

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Relentless Lent

“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” — John 14:6 I used to think this verse from Jesus’ farewell speech was pretty straightforward. Jesus being “the way” means he is the one-way ticket to the Father. Evangelism is giving people this secret wisdom so …

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MONDAY MEDITATION: The Companion Church (March 6)

Forget about deciding what’s right for each other. Here’s what you need to be concerned about: that you don’t get in the way of someone else, making life more difficult than it already is. — Romans 14:13 (The Message) When Paul wrote “forget about deciding what’s right for each other,” he was addressing Christians who …

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MONDAY MEDITATION: A Humble Role Model (February 27)

“Here’s my recommendation in this case: Distance yourselves from these men. Let them go! If their plan or activity is of human origin, it will end in ruin. If it originates with God, you won’t be able to stop them. Instead, you would actually find yourselves fighting God!” — Acts 5:38-39 These words were spoken by …

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MONDAY MEDITATION: A Measure of Life (February 20)

You return people to dust, saying, “Go back, humans.” — Psalm 90:3 I was reading an old sermon of mine on the eternal question of why we suffer. In it, I ran across a poem written by Ken Brewer, a man dying of pancreatic cancer. I measure my life in family who speak through tears, who serve me …

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The Mysterious Last Verse of Isaiah

Up until the last verse, the conclusion of Isaiah is breathtakingly beautiful. It paints a picture of a new heaven and earth, foreshadowing the triumphant vision at the end of Revelation. “All nations and cultures” will finally recognize God’s love and power. “All humanity” will gather in Jerusalem, the place symbolizing the Lord’s immediate presence. …

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MONDAY MEDITATION: The Fifth Dentist (February 6)

Don’t you have eyes? Why can’t you see? Don’t you have ears? Why can’t you hear? Don’t you remember? — Mark 8:18 Scientist and author Paul Wallace once commented on a popular advertisement from a few years ago: “Have you seen that commercial for a sugarless gum, the one where ‘4 out of 5 dentists recommend …

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