Sunday, June 14, 2020

Healing Touch

Jesus is the Messiah who restores life. Jesus didn’t come just for the woman with the hemorrhage or to raise Jairus’ daughter from the dead. Jesus came to save all sinners. He came for you and for me. One day, we will be in a grave. But, when we believe Jesus is the Messiah who restores life, we no longer fear the grave. We know that after we are dead, Jesus will extend His hand to us. We will sing with joy and say, “The grave has no victory over me. Jesus gives me eternal life.” He will take us by the hand, and just like the girl, we will also eat. We will sit at the great banquet of the marriage supper of the Lamb and we will enjoy the presence of Jesus forever.
Scripture: Luke 8:40-56
Sunday, April 12, 2020

The Last Enemy

Death is sobering. Let the thought of dying permeate your thinking right now. You may say, “But I don’t want to think about death, it hurts.” I know. Thinking about death can hurt. But, to not think about death is irresponsible and immature. Death stings like a scorpion’s deadly poison. But what if there is a truth that eliminates the sting of death? What if there is life after death? Is there more than just this life? Whether or not there is life after death, or stated another way, “a resurrection,” is the most important truth for all people. If there is a resurrection after we die, it changes everything. It impacts how we live before we die. If there is a resurrection, we need to prepare for what comes after we die. If there is a resurrection, does it change the purpose and meaning of the life we have now? Does the resurrection lead to a life that is eternal, or will we die once again?
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:12-26

Never Forget God

God doesn’t want us to downplay the present afflictions and sufferings of this world. He doesn’t want us to live in an alternate reality that denies sufferings.What God wants us to do is know that this world has troubles, but remember the words He speaks to us. He wants us to embrace the sufferings and embrace the comfort we have in Christ. He speaks to us so that we may have peace. In the world, we will have affliction and sufferings. But, Christ gives us comfort. He rises from the dead, so we may take courage knowing He overcomes the world. Never forget the power, sovereignty, and promises of God during times of difficulty.
Scripture: Isaiah 51:9-16

Comfort, O Comfort My People

We have the best news on earth. There is comfort for the weary soul. Warfare is at an end. Conflict, destruction or turmoil are over. Everlasting peace is at hand. Turn swords into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks. Stop striving and find rest. Drink from the well of living water and eat the bread which satisfies the deepest of hunger.
Scripture: Isaiah 40:1-11

The Lord is Our Only Hope

We are frail physically. None of us has any guarantee we will be alive tomorrow. We are frail in our faith. We experience doubt. We may be on the super-faith path one moment, and a train-wreck life experience comes our way, and we find we need the help of others to clear the doubts away. We are frail in our morality. Many who appear to be mighty Christians have fallen only to find themselves humbly licking their sin-inflicted wounds. Success in our Christian walk happens not because we are super-Christians, but because God’s grace keeps us in His hand.
Scripture: Isaiah 38-39