Monday, October 28, 2024
Hebrews 12:14
Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the LORD.
Holiness is one of those virtues that feels a little out of reach because in the Word, God declares, I am holy. But He also asks us to be holy, like He is holy, because He wants us to be set apart. And from what our verse says today, that can take a lot of effort. But it’s an effort that will give rich rewards!
Friday, October 25, 2024
Luke 6:43-44
No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush.
If a tree that was in your yard always bore bad fruit, you’d probably choose to cut it down. There’d be no point in keeping it, because you wouldn’t enjoy eating bad fruit. And that’s what Jesus was trying to emphasize to His followers. That it wasn’t just trees that bore bad fruit, people can too. But a good tree bears good fruit and that allows others to taste and see that the Lord is good.
Thursday, October 24, 2024
Matthew 12:30
Whoever is not with Me is against Me, and whoever does not gather with Me scatters.
The Pharisees put Jesus on the spot when they claimed He was working with Satan to drive out Satan. After Jesus corrected them, He then put them on the spot. He told them, in this life, you’re either with Him or you’re against Him. But that statement wasn’t just for the Pharisees to decide, it’s one for all humanity to resolve.
Wednesday, October 23, 2024
Micah 2:12
I will surely gather all of you, Jacob; I will surely bring together the remnant of Israel. I will bring them together like sheep in a pen, like a flock in its pasture, a noisy throng.
God is a God of justice, but He’s also a God of mercy. And in the middle of a message of judgement for Israel, the Lord also spoke about restoration and hope for the future of the nation. And it’s because, to The Lord, Israel would always be His people, the sheep of His pasture.
Tuesday, October 22, 2024
Hebrews 10:24-25
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to gather together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Each day we live on this earth, gets us closer to the Day of Jesus return. But God hasn’t called us to neglect each other and simply give up until that day comes. He wants us to continue to do the things He has called us to do: gathering together, building each other up in the faith, and doing those good works He prepared for us to do.
Monday, October 21, 2024
Matthew 18:20
Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
Jesus promised something very significant to the disciples about the importance of gathering together. If they wanted to ensure His presence would be with them, then they needed to continue to pray with each other. And that same promise is available to us today because His presence is with those who gather together in prayer.