READ: 1 Kings 7-9, Psalm 101, Matthew 12, 2 Thessalonians 3 GLORY CLOUDED David lifts for us all a cry of longing: “Oh when will you come to me” (Psalm 101:2)? We know that we belong to Jesus, yet we all feel a longing for more of Him, we all struggle with the plague of […]
Region: Arab World
Abiding in Jesus: April 10
READ: 1 Kings 4-6, Psalm 100, Matthew 11, 2 Thessalonians 2 POOR PREACHING Jesus’ primary way of dignifying the poor was by preaching to them. Jesus looked beyond socio-economic status and treated every human equally. Jesus’ interaction with the poor is notable for what He did not do. He did not maintain a feeding program. […]
Abiding in Jesus: April 9
READ: 1 Kings 1-3, Psalm 99, Matthew 10, 2 Thessalonians 1 COUNTED WORTHY Of the things Jesus is against, one of the more surprising is temporal peace. Jesus did not come to bring peace on the earth, but a sword (Matt. 10:34). Jesus brings division to families and societies, and following Jesus leads us to be […]
Abiding in Jesus: April 8
READ: 2 Samuel 22-24, Psalm 98, Matthew 9, 1 Thessalonians 5 DELIGHTED IN It is difficult for must humans to believe God delights in us. We can accept that He forgives us (because He is magnanimous); we can accept that He provides for us (because He is generous); and we can even accept that He […]
Abiding in Jesus: April 7
READ: 2 Samuel 19-21, Psalm 97, Matthew 8, 1 Thessalonians 4 SORROW SWALLOWER A good friend told me yesterday that he was unfaithful to his wife. He has not lived up to God’s will for sexual purity; he has not possessed his own vessel in honor; he has not obeyed God’s call to holiness (1 […]
Lord, I Give You My Some
My selfish ambition sets sail Down the hidden rivers of rebellion in my heart, Secret tunnels obscure things not yet ready to reveal. I’ve come this far, given you most. Why can’t You be satisfied with that? No, all is what you want. And every atom of my being is restless, defensive, Silent tantrums heard […]
Abiding in Jesus: April 6
READ: 2 Samuel 16-18, Psalm 96, Matthew 7, 1 Thessalonians 3 APPOINTED TO THIS When Jesus is the source of our affections, we are convinced that He is worthy of all things. He is worthy of our lives, worthy of our deaths, worthy of hopes, worthy of our worship. Jesus is worth dying for. Jesus […]
Abiding in Jesus: April 5
READ: 2 Samuel 13-15, Psalm 95, Matthew 6, 1 Thessalonians 2 PLEASING GOD It is impossible to please everyone, so you might as well be devoted to pleasing Jesus. It is a fallacy to think that we will be liked for preaching the gospel. Deep within every human is a desire and a need to […]
Abiding in Jesus: April 4
READ: 2 Samuel 10-12, Psalm 94, Matthew 5, 1 Thessalonians 1 EXCEEDINGLY GLAD How sweet it is to suffer and die. The crucified life has so much joy. If only we could trust Jesus, take Him at His word and embrace dying daily, we would be so enriched. We find it so hard to believe […]
Abiding in Jesus: April 3
READ: 2 Samuel 7-9, Psalm 93, Matthew 4 , Colossians 4 CARRIED CONTINUALLY God took David from the sheepfold to make him ruler. The Lord was with David and preserved David wherever he went (2 Sam. 7:9, 8:6, 8:14). David was carried continually. There is an ongoing tension in our hearts, the tension of continually […]
