As Palm Sunday approaches, let's reflect on Matthew 21:8-11 "And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! ’Hosanna in the highest!” And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, “Who is this? ”So the multitudes said, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.”
Read MoreWhen making disciples, the end goal is for the individual to grow and become fully mature in Christ.
Galatians 4:19 identifies this spiritual formation as Christ being formed in you: "My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you."
Read MoreJohn 14:16,18 "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper that He may abide with you forever- the Spirit of truth,.... 18 I will not leave you orphans: I will come to you."
Read MoreLuke 22:42 "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done."
Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane when He prayed this prayer of consecration. His prayer was so intense and full of agony that verse 44 goes on to say that "His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground." He knew He was about to endure suffering at the hands of the Jewish rulers, yet He still abandoned Himself to His Father's will and went to the cross to redeem mankind from their sins. He knew if He didn't, we would never experience true life.
Read MoreLeviticus 19:14 "Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God. I am the Lord."
If someone is deaf or out of hearing range from you, why does it matter if you curse or mutter something behind their back if they can't hear you? What you mutter matters because Matthew 15:18 says " But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man."
Read MoreDo you remember Weebles, an egg-shaped tabletop toy that wouldn't fall when tipped, but rather sprang right back up? The Weeble's slogan went something like "Weebles wobble but they don't fall down." The firm weighted base would cause the Weeble to rebound and spring back up to an upright position after a fall. It never stayed down because of what it was grounded in.
Read MoreWhat is prayer? It may be as simple as sitting somewhere and sharing with God a concern or need that is on your heart or seeking an answer to some questions in your life. It may be the whisper you offer up as you drive to work or as you wash the morning dishes.
Read MoreDo you see yourself the way God sees you? If you aren't walking in your God-given identity, isn't it fair to say that you are living under a false identity? The bible says in Col. 1:13 that "He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed (transferred) us into the kingdom of the Son of His love."
Read MoreHave you ever had a callous on your hand or foot after working in a garden or running in a long-distance race? Skin that once was tender became tough and thick after friction and pressure were continually applied to it. Callouses can be good for a guitar player who wants to toughen up their skin so they can play without finger pain.
Read MoreWhat do you think of when you hear the word "yoke?" Perhaps you think of the middle of an egg? Or a believer being married to an unbeliever and being unequally yoked to them? Or perhaps you think of a wooden harness on an oxen's neck to help them plow or pull a load.
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