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Here is sound advice from the writer of Hebrews.

“Keep your life free from the love of money.”

Now that’s hard to follow in our culture today.

A culture that says you need more money and more things to be happy.

It’s that “always striving for more” philosophy.

Sadly, a philosophy that never leads to happiness or contentment.

Instead of striving for more, the writer of Hebrews says to be content with what you have.

Now he’s not just talking about money.

What you have as a believer is Jesus Christ himself.

He lives in you and walks with you through every situation.

And unlike money, he will never leave you nor forsake.

Today, remember that you have Jesus.

And in him is contentment for your soul.

Categories: Christian Living Faith

In high school and college I wanted to be part of the “in crowd.”

To fit in and hang out with the popular people.

I wanted to be on the inside.

Then I learned something significant.

Jesus was never a part of the “in crowd.”

The religious insiders of the day rejected him.

They cast him outside the gates of their protected existence.

Here is what Hebrews says.

“So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his blood.”

If you want authentic life, eternal life, it’s not with the in crowd.

Go out to Jesus. There you will find what the in crowd could never provide.

Life, forgiveness, and freedom.

Categories: Identity/Self Image Christian Living

The internet today is filled with fake news.

So it is important not to believe everything you see, hear and read.

The same was true following the days of Jesus.

There were a lot of false messages going around back then.

Fake gospels.

John warned about this in his first letter.

“Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God.”

Here is the test.

Do they teach that Jesus Christ came in the flesh, that he became flesh and dwelled among us.

That’s the sign that they are speaking the truth.

If he didn’t come in the flesh, then we have no gospel, no death, burial or resurrection.

There are people today who say Christ did not come in the flesh.

Don’t believe them. They are not speaking the truth.

Categories: Jesus Christ New Covenant

Under the umbrella of religion exists many strange teachings.

Some of these strange teachings have an appearance of wisdom; regulations like “Do no handle, do not taste, do not touch.”

Others promise all sorts of physical blessings.

And then there are those that offer secret knowledge, a knowledge they claim is higher than the knowledge God has revealed to us in Christ.

The Bible strongly warns against being led astray by these teachings.

The reason is simple — these teachings are bad for the soul.

There is only one message that reaches deep within the soul and brings contentment and peace.

And that is the grace of Jesus Christ.

Today be encouraged by these words from Hebrews.

“It is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace.”

Categories: Christian Living Faith

For a period in my life, I was “Mr. Non-committal”.

I was always waiting for something better to come along.

Many people are like that when it comes to Christianity.

They like what they hear concerning Jesus, but they don’t want to say “yes” to him just in case something or someone better shows up.

There are even genuine, sincere believers who are afraid to fully take hold of their new life in Christ.

What if they miss out on something good in this world.

Here is some good news.

Every good and perfect gift comes from the Father.

His highest word his best gift to you is Jesus.

With him, that someone better has arrived.

With him, you can live life to the full.

Categories: God's Will Faith

At the right time, God sent Jesus.

He sent Jesus to redeem those under the law.

Now that’s all of us.

We were born into this world under the law of sin and death.

We were under the control of sin’s power, slaves to sin.

But no longer.

Christ went into that market place of sin and death and became sin for us.

He paid the price.

And once he did, he adopted us as sons and daughters and filled us with his Spirit.

It is by His Spirit that we cry out “Abba, Father.”

Think about how your status has changed in Christ.

You were once a slave to sin.

Now you are a son or daughter of the King, and heir of God.

Categories: Identity/Self Image Christian Living

Jesus had many interesting conversations with the religious leaders of the day.

In one, he told them “you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”

They were outraged by these words.

“We have never been enslaved to anyone.”

Jesus explained what he meant.

Everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.

Now later on, Jesus defined sin as unbelief in Him.

That’s the sin that holds us captive, that enslaves us.

Here is the good news. Truth unshackles us from the sin of unbelief and sets us free.

It breaks the power that sin and death held over us.

Now this truth is bound up in the person of Jesus Christ.

And when the Son sets you free, you are free indeed.

Categories: Salvation Forgiveness/Repentance

What does real greatness look like?

In God’s kingdom. the great ones serve.

They don’t live to be served.

Rather, they care for the needs of others.

This is how Jesus said it.

“For even the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Through his death, Jesus served you.

He cared for your deep spiritual needs.

Specifically, he gave himself as a ransom to set you free from the powers of sin and death.

The greatness of the Son served you to the fullest extent and he gave you a place among his people.

And the Father exalted him to his right hand, the place of honor.

And we will bow down and worship him forever.

Categories: Love Christian Living

What was your life like before you received Jesus Christ.

My life on the surface was really good.

I had a great family, lots of love and support, many friends, and opportunities to do most anything.

But even as good as it was, there was still something missing.

I felt empty on the inside.

Peter described what I was experiencing to a T.

He called it “an empty way of life.”

Maybe you’ve experienced the same sense of emptiness.

Well hear is the good news.

Jesus Christ redeemed you from that empty way of life

Not with silver of gold, but with his precious blood.

And then he filled you with his very life.

In Christ, you are no longer empty on the inside

And your new life has substance and is filled with meaning and purpose.

And that’s good news.

Categories: Righteousness/Justification Salvation

In Christ, you have redemption through his blood.

This is yours right now.

And it was delivered to you as a gift of grace

But what does it mean to have redemption.

It means that…

Jesus Christ’s death on the cross delivered you from the power and punishment of sin.

It means that you have forgiveness of sins.

You see, you, like all of us, were once a slave to sin.

Sin was your master. You followed the ways of the world. You lived to gratify the desires of the flesh.

But no more.

Christ paid the debt.

To release you from sin’s control and from sin’s power.

In other words, you have been set free by the blood of the lamb.

You have been redeemed.

Categories: Forgiveness/Repentance Righteousness/Justification