Scripture: Matthew 15: 7-9

⁷ You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote, ⁸ ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. ⁹ Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.’^[d]”

Scripture Commentary: Be careful what you worship.

What or who do you worship? This is an important question. We get so caught up in the world and what it has to offer that we forget that it’s God’s creation, not ours. We think that because we made or built something that we created it.

Who created you? And where did your dream or idea come from? We are hypocrites when we think we’re all that. The prophet Isaiah also criticized the people who portrayed themselves as God’s ordained leaders of the church. Their laws and rules were of the flesh, not of God’s spirit.

Be very careful who you follow and listen to.

Satan has his disciples spreading his message. We can be misled when we say we honor God but follow our heart. It’s not enough to act religious. The question is what religion are you following? We are children of God so live and act like a child of God.

Don’t just read and study the Bible. Live what God says. Respond to God, the Creator!

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Matthew 15

Read Other Commentary From the Book of Matthew:

Do Not Worry or Be Anxious

Jesus, Tell Me to Come to You on the Water

Scripture: John 3: 1-3

 There was a man named Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader who was a Pharisee. ² After dark one evening, he came to speak with Jesus. “Rabbi,” he said, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.” ³ Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again,^[a] you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”

Scripture Commentary:

Once you have accepted Jesus Christ, you are born again. The sinful life you’ve been living is washed away. The old you is gone; there is a new you. This is the gift that awaits you once you have accepted Jesus Christ.

We are all born sinners but we don’t have to live our life in sin. In John 3 Nicodemus was thinking of the physical body; however, Jesus was telling him of the Holy Spirit given to each of us. Have you talked to your Holy Spirit lately? If not, call on it now.

No matter who you are or what you’ve been doing, God is ready to forgive and forget your past transgressions and give you His almighty love. God gives us chances all the time. He knows we are weak, but He is strong.

Are you ready to be born again? Be washed in the spiritual blood of Christ. Be free at last!

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

John 3

Read Other Commentary From the Book of John:

Jesus Is the Living Water

The Temptation of ‘Must Not’

Scripture: Mark 2: 17

¹⁷ When Jesus heard this, he told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

Scripture Commentary: Who do you call when you’re sick?

When you are sick, you call the doctor. S/he will prescribe medicine to make you well. Who do you call when your spirit is sick? Do you call on Jesus Christ or do you self medicate?

We can’t fix our souls, only Jesus can do that. When everything is going well, we get to the point where we forget God. Then we become spiritually sick and enter Satan’s world.

The Pharisees were indignant that Jesus broke bread with sinners. However, Jesus is the soul healer and had to go where the sick were. Christ loved us before we even knew or accepted him.

His message was the same then as it is now. Love your neighbor and spread God’s Gospel to everyone you can. Are you that good neighbor speading God’s Word?

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Mark 2

Read Other Commentary From the Book of Mark:

Watch! Be Alert For Jesus’ Return

Have Faith in God to Move Your Mountains

Scripture: Ephesians 6: 12 – 13

¹² For we^[d] are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 

Scripture Commentary:

Paul tells us we are fighting a war that has been going on since Adam and Eve. Satan has not given up. If anything, he has adapted his fight to fit into this time of history. Satan’s forces are powerful and the evil spirits are cunning and will do anything and everything for Satan to win the war.

We need God to protect and show us how to withstand their attacks. God gives us the armor of protection. The Bible, prayer and faith are our weapons.

Paul’s words give us counsel so that we are best prepared for what is before us. God gives us The Holy Spirit to show us how to defeat Satan and his army. Satan’s armies are not mere fantasy; they are real and powerful, but with God as our leader, we will win the fight. God gives us supernatural power to do battle with Satan and defeat him and his forces.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Ephesians 6

Read Other Commentary From the Book of Ephesians:

Forgiveness Means No Payment Is Needed

Don’t Stew in Bitterness, Rage and Anger

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12: 7-9

⁷ even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. ⁸ Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away.⁹ Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.

Scripture Commentary: God’s grace is sufficient in every circumstance.

Paul makes a request in 2 Corinthians 12: 7-8. Paul’s infirmity is getting to him. In verse 9 God tells Paul that He gives him grace to weather the challenge.

Do you have a problem you can’t fix?

Is there something keeping you up at night? There are things in our lives that we cannot solve and we have to give it to God. But even then, it stays with us. Why is that?

Could God be telling you that the problem is not important and that you need to accept His grace and move forward? In the second part of verse 9, Paul acknowledges that the infirmity will not keep him from doing God’s work. He will move forward with the assignment God gave him.

What is your assignment? Are you stuck and making excuses? Life has its ups and downs but God is constant. He will not give you more than you can handle.

God tells Paul what He will and will not do. Paul accepts God’s message. Talk to God and listen to His reply.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

2 Corinthians 12

Read Other Commentary From the Book of 2 Corinthians:

Do Not Despair; God Is With You

Believers Spread the Aroma of the Knowledge of God

Scripture: John 9: 1-6

As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. ² “Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?” ³ “It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him. ⁴ We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us.^[a] The night is coming, and then no one can work. ⁵ But while I am here in the world, I am the light of the world.” ⁶ Then he spit on the ground, made mud with the saliva, and spread the mud over the blind man’s eyes. ⁷ He told him, “Go wash yourself in the pool of Siloam” (Siloam means “sent”). So the man went and washed and came back seeing!

Scripture Commentary: So why did Jesus spread the mud over the blind man’s eyes?

This is the sixth out of seven miracles recorded in the Book of John. Of the seven this is the only one where Jesus touches someone. (Jesus just spoke the Word to perform the other six miracles.) So why did Jesus spread the mud over the blind man’s eyes?

There are four different responses outlined for this miracle. They are as follows:

1. The people were skeptical.
2. The Pharisees showed prejudice toward Jesus.
3. The man’s parents were fearful of the reaction of the Jewish leaders.

But, here is the fourth response…

4. The blind man’s faith is growing.

The miracle is for all who believe.

When the Pharisees questioned the blind man, he answered that a man named Jesus healed him. The miracle wasn’t just for the man. It was for those around him and for us today.

Do you believe that Jesus Christ is alive today? Miracles happen every day because the Holy Spirit lives with us. Believe that God is with you today, tomorrow, and for eternity.

Amen.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

John 9

Read Other Commentary on John 9:

Jesus Heals the Blind

I Once Was Blind But Now I See

Are You Spiritually Blind?

Scripture: 2 Samuel 12: 1-3

So the Lord sent Nathan the prophet to tell David this story: “There were two men in a certain town. One was rich, and one was poor. ² The rich man owned a great many sheep and cattle. ³ The poor man owned nothing but one little lamb he had bought. He raised that little lamb, and it grew up with his children. It ate from the man’s own plate and drank from his cup. He cuddled it in his arms like a baby daughter. 

Scripture Commentary:

On the surface this story is about two men, one rich and one poor; however, the real story is about a king who had everything. And out of sin and lust of the flesh, he took another man’s wife and had that man killed to cover his sin.

When you bring this story into today, there are people who have more than they need but their thirst for more is never quenched. They don’t care who they hurt or destroy. Do you know anyone who fits this description?

When Nathan tells David this story, could he also be referring to us? Nathan was required to confront sin as a prophet. We don’t have Nathan with us today but we do have God’s Holy Spirit.

What does God’s Holy Spirit tell you when you are wrong? Do you listen or do you ignore it? David repented and God forgave.

Have you repented your sins?

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

2 Samuel 12

Read Other Commentary From the Book of 2 Samuel:

What Can We Learn From David’s Sin?

God Is the Shield of My Salvation

Scripture: Genesis 50: 15-17

¹⁵ But now that their father was dead, Joseph’s brothers became fearful. “Now Joseph will show his anger and pay us back for all the wrong we did to him,” they said. ¹⁶ So they sent this message to Joseph: “Before your father died, he instructed us ¹⁷ to say to you: ‘Please forgive your brothers for the great wrong they did to you—for their sin in treating you so cruelly.’ So we, the servants of the God of your father, beg you to forgive our sin.” When Joseph received the message, he broke down and wept.

Scripture Commentary: God shows mercy when we do wrong.

God uses the great wrong that Joseph’s brothers did for the betterment of a nation and its people. All of us have done great wrongs in our lives. God has a way of taking our mistakes to turn us around.

Joseph’s brothers knew what they did and when their father died, they thought Joseph would take his revenge. However, Joseph knew that God placed him in Egypt for a purpose.

Find out why you are here.

We, too, are here for a reason and a purpose. Do you know yours? We arise in the morning and go about our routine without thinking. But try this today: ask God what He wants from you today. Ask Him to use you for His purpose. Ask Him for the spiritual strength to do what needs to be done today. Get up with love for God!

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Genesis 50

Read Other Commentary From the Book of Genesis:

What Punctuation Mark Describes Your Life?

The Temptation of ‘Must Not’

Scripture: Matthew 12: 26-30

²⁶ And if Satan is casting out Satan, he is divided and fighting against himself. His own kingdom will not survive. ²⁷ And if I am empowered by Satan, what about your own exorcists? They cast out demons, too, so they will condemn you for what you have said. ²⁸ But if I am casting out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you. ²⁹ For who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man and plunder his goods? Only someone even stronger—someone who could tie him up and then plunder his house. ³⁰ “Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.

Scripture Commentary: A house divided cannot stand.

Many of us played tug of war as children. There are two people or teams trying to pull the opposing team across a line drawn in the ground. Jesus tells us in Matthew 12 that we can’t be on both teams. You can’t be divided and fighting against yourself. You have to choose a side.

On one side is Christ. His side represents love for one another, and helping and praying for each other. On the other side is Satan. On that side is money, lust, power, and me, myself and I.

In Jesus’s time, the Pharisees accused him of being in league with Satan. They felt threatened because they neither knew nor cared about who Jesus was. By refusing Jesus they exposed their foolishness.

When Jesus was born, Satan’s power and control was weakened; his power over death taken away. Jesus’s resurrection defeated Satan’s weapon, death. Satan’s job is to mislead you into thinking he has something better for you. Don’t follow him.

Ask Christ to guide you because you love him and want to spend eternity in his Father’s Kingdom.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Matthew 12

Read Other Commentary From the Book of Matthew:

How Can Anyone Walk On Water?

Innocent Blood Redeems Us

Scripture: Acts 8: 9-13, 18

⁹ A man named Simon had been a sorcerer there for many years, amazing the people of Samaria and claiming to be someone great. ¹⁰ Everyone, from the least to the greatest, often spoke of him as “the Great One—the Power of God.” ¹¹ They listened closely to him because for a long time he had astounded them with his magic. ¹² But now the people believed Philip’s message of Good News concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. As a result, many men and women were baptized. ¹³ Then Simon himself believed and was baptized. He began following Philip wherever he went, and he was amazed by the signs and great miracles Philip performed. ¹⁸ When Simon saw that the Spirit was given when the apostles laid their hands on people, he offered them money to buy this power.

Scripture Commentary: Money can’t buy your place in heaven.

Do you know of anyone who believes money can buy anything? Money, position, power here on earth is meaningless. We have today, just as the people had over 2000 years ago, sorcerers and magicians influencing society. These people practice astrology. Their wonders are simply magic tricks, or their power may derive from Satan.

Don’t be misled. Know your Bible.

Read Matthew 24:24 and 2 Thessalonians 2:9. Simon had some people believing he was the Messiah. Do not be misled. It’s important to know your Bible. Jesus encountered and drove out many demons during his earthly ministry. Some scholars believe these demons are fallen angels who joined Satan to wage war here on earth against God’s followers. Their job is to tempt us to sin. They are real, active and powerful and they focus on the lost, weak, and those who have not accepted Christ as the Messiah.

Although powerful, they cannot mislead God’s people. Jesus has authority over them. He protects and guides his believers.

Satan and his followers are bound for the lake of fire for eternity. Are your toes in the heavenly kingdom of God or are they on fire?

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scriptures Referenced:

Acts 8

Matthew 24

2 Thessalonians 2

Read Other Commentary From the Book of Acts:

Saul, why do you persecute me?

Call On the Name of the Lord to Be Saved