Category: New Testament

Faith – the Evidence of Things Not Seen

Scripture: Hebrews 11: 1, 6

Now faith is the [a]substance of things hoped for, the [b]evidence of things not seen. (1) But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.(6)

Scripture Commentary:

We have people in our lives that we have complete faith in because we know them. We can see them and can talk and listen to them when we seek them out. But what about God who is not seen? Although we can’t see Him in the flesh, His Spirit is with all of us. He knows everything about us.

According to Webster’s Dictionary, faith is a firm belief in something for which there is no proof. It is a belief and trust in and loyalty to God.

Do you have the faith to go to God and believe He hears you?

Do you believe He will guide you in the direction you should go? Is your faith strong enough to believe He can do anything?

Believing that God exists is only the beginning. Even the devil believes.

God wants a personal, dynamic relationship with us; one that transforms us. Do you believe? If not, ask God to help your unbelief. God will show you the way.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Hebrews Chapter 11

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Hebrews:

Every Life Involves Struggle … Endure!

Believe the Word that Jesus Speaks to You

How to Overcome Temptations Common to Man

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10: 13, 21

Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to [d]bear it.(13) You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord’s table and of the table of demons.(21)

Scripture Commentary:

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to man. God will not let you be tempted beyond what you can handle. But when you are tempted, God will provide a way out if you call on Him.

Paul tells us there is a battle going on with the flesh and the spirit. He isn’t referring to our physical flesh; he is referring to our spiritual soul. The natural self wants to do what feels good and easy.

God’s Holy Spirit in you wants you to glorify Him, not yourself.

These two spirits are constantly against one another as long as you live. What Paul is telling us is the flesh (Satan) desires what is contrary to the Holy Spirit (God).

The Spirit of God is contrary to the flesh (Satan). The Holy Spirit inside of you says, “Live for God,” and your flesh says, “Live for yourself.” When we live for God, we submit to Him daily by reading the Bible and call on Him. This is how God nourishes our spirit (our soul).

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

1 Corinthians Chapter 10

Read Other Commentary from the Book of 1 Corinthians:

Where Is the Wise? Search for Wisdom

Can Others See the Temple of God in You?

God Hasn’t Given You A Spirit of Fear

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1: 7, 14

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.(7) That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.(14)

Scripture Commentary:

What in your life keeps you up at night and plagues you during the day? Is it the fear of losing your job, spouse, or health? These are some of the things that may be ricocheting through your mind that refuse to be quieted.

In Psalm 139: 23, David asked God to search his heart for there was something David needed to face. After asking God to search his heart, David prayed, “know my anxious thoughts.” He wanted to share his worst with God.

Why do we fear going to God and exposing ourselves with questions and fears that He already knows about?

There is nothing too big for God. There’s nothing He does not already know. Pray to God. He will reveal what holds you hostage and show you how to deal with it.

What we fear the most often reveals where we trust God the least. Our fears matter because ultimately, our fears show how we’re relying on our own self and not God.

You can’t be driven by fear and please, serve and honor God. You must ask God for help.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scriptures Referenced:

2 Timothy Chapter 1

Psalm 139

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Second Timothy:

Jesus Was Raised From the Dead for You

The Last Days Will Be Terrible

Don’t Worry That You Don’t Understand Everything

Proverbs 20: 24

A person’s steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand their own way?

Psalm 37: 23-24

The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.

2 Corinthians 4: 17-18

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Scripture Commentary: We won’t understand everything.

Proverbs 20: 24 tells us not to worry if we do not understand everything as it happens in our lives. It’s easy to be lost and confused when we deal with worldly events. We make plans and maybe they go the way we planned, and maybe not. God’s time table is His, not ours.

Psalm 37: 23 says the person in whom God delights is one who follows God, and puts their trust in Him. If you let Him, God will direct your steps and will not lead you down the wrong path.

The problems that we will have should not diminish our faith.

God is not giving us a bed of roses type of life. If God did, then we will think we don’t need Him. When we see how God pulls us through the mess we create, we realize that only His love, grace and mercy got us through.

Read the Entire Chapters of the Scriptures Referenced:

Proverbs Chapter 20

Psalm Chapter 37

2 Corinthians Chapter 4

Read Other Commentary from the Old Testament:

Serve Only the Lord Your God

Read Other Commentary from the New Testament:

Wilt Thou Be Made Whole?

Innocent Blood Redeems Us

Scripture: Matthew 27: 3-4

When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. 4 “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.”

Scripture Commentary:

“I have betrayed innocent blood.” Judas returned to the priests exclaiming that he had sinned.

What is that to us? Rather than help him find forgiveness, the priests said, “That is your problem. Deal with it.”

Who do you go to when you sin?

No man or women of flesh and skin can truly forgive you. Only God can. Without Judas, Jesus would not be crucified. When Jesus picked His disciples, He knew who Judas was and what Judas had to do.

Psalm 41:9 foretells of Judas’ betrayal. It was preordained for him to do this. In Matthew 27: 3 it says that Judas repented and then hung himself. In Luke 23: 43 after the thief on the cross repented, Jesus forgave him and told him he would be with Him in paradise.

We may not want to think of Judas in paradise with Jesus but he repented of his sin in asking God to forgive him. Even at the last second, God forgives.

God forgave Judas; God will forgive you.

If you are reading this, you have time to go to God and pray for forgiveness.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scriptures Referenced:

Matthew Chapter 27

Psalm Chapter 41

Luke Chapter 23

Read Other Commentary from the New Testament:

The Circumcision of Christ Cuts Your Sinful Nature

Husband and Wife: Keep God in Your Marriage

We Know God Is Always With Us

Scripture: Romans 8: 28-29

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[i] have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 

Scripture Commentary: As believers we know that we aren’t left to our own resources.

Even when we’re lost and do not know the right words to pray, we know that God’s Holy Spirit in us will give us what we need. Just call on Him.

Ask the Holy Spirit to intercede for you in accordance with God’s will.

God works in all things – not just in isolated incidents. This doesn’t mean that all that happens is good. Evil is prevalent in our fallen world but God is able to turn every circumstance around for our good as long as it is in His will.

God is not working to make us happy for our own gratification but to fulfill His purpose. This call to serve is not for everyone; it is meant for those who are called according to His purpose. Those who are called are those the Holy Spirit convinces and enables to receive Christ.

Such people have a new perspective, a new mindset on life. They trust in God, not this world’s treasures. Their security is in Jesus and not the things of this earth.

Are you hearing Jesus’s call?

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Romans Chapter 8

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Romans:

Jesus Set Us Free with His Sacrifice on the Cross

Who Are You to Pass Judgment on Others?

God Told Us Things To Give Us Peace

Scripture: John 16: 33

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Scripture Commentary:

The disciples did not fully understand what Jesus told them, and at the time they had questions. One of the questions was if Jesus went away, what would happen to them?

One answer Jesus had for them, and us today, is not to long for answers to the problems in our life. That’s an unrealistic goal since in this world, we will have trouble. There’s an eternity of problem-free living reserved for us in heaven. Rejoice in that inheritance. No one can take from us.

We can have a personal relationship with God through Christ

Christ’s death on the cross made a personal relationship with God available to each of us. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to guide us on how to live and follow in the path of righteousness.

This time on earth is temporary. Our home in God’s kingdom is permanent. So, what we are going through now is only for a short time. In spite of these inevitable struggles, we are not alone.

The ultimate victory has already been won. We can claim Christ in the most troublesome times.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

John Chapter 16

Read Other Commentary from the Book of John:

God Didn’t Send Jesus to Condemn the World

God So Loved You That He Gave His Son

Jesus, Tell Me to Come to You on the Water

Scripture: Matthew 14: 28-31

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”29 “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

Scripture Commentary:

Peter, of all the disciples, questions Jesus the most, denies Jesus three times and now asks Jesus to call him to walk on the water.

How many times have you called Jesus but didn’t wait to hear His answer?

Peter starts to sink because he took his eyes off Jesus and focused on the high waves. His faith wavers when he realizes he was not focusing on Jesus. When we stop focusing on Jesus and turn our attention on the world, we become lost.

Our walk through the situations of everyday living can be like walking on water without Jesus at our side. If we focus on the difficulties around us without Jesus, we will sink.

Peter’s faith faltered, but he reached out to Jesus, the only one who could help. He was afraid but he looked to Jesus. As we go through life, we must remember that Christ is with us. He will never leave us to sink in our walk in life.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Matthew Chapter 14

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Matthew:

Do Not Worry – Give It to God

Store Up Your Treasures in Heaven

Lord, I Will Follow You

Scripture: Luke 9: 57-62

As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”58  Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”59 He said to another man, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”60  Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”61  Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.”62  Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

Scripture Commentary:

Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brothers casting a net. Jesus told them, “Follow me.” Straightaway they left their nets and followed Him.

And going from there Jesus saw James and John with their father. He told the two brothers, “Follow me.” Immediately they left their father and followed Jesus.

What does Jesus want from us?

He wants total dedication, not halfhearted commitment. We cannot pick and choose from among Jesus’s ideas and follow Him selectively. We have to accept the cross along with the crown; judgment as well as mercy.

We must count the cost and be willing to abandon everything else that has given us security. Luke does not say in chapter 9, verse 59 if James and John’s father has died or if he is dying. In verse 61, Luke does not say if the someone mentioned wanted to say goodbye to family or friends. We see in Matthew 4 that Jesus called to Simon, Andrew, James and John. And they dropped everything and followed Jesus.

Jesus is calling you. Are you going to follow Him?

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Luke Chapter 9

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Luke:

Lord, Remember Me When You Come into Your Kingdom

I Once Was Lost but Now I’m Found

We Have Our Minds Set On Jesus

Scripture: Romans 8: 4-6

...in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.

Scripture Commentary:

I’m sure we can all remember the day we accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. We had our minds set. We felt good because we weren’t controlled by Satan and his sinful nature.

Paul places people in two categories: those who let themselves be controlled by the flesh and those who let themselves be controlled by the spirit. We would all be in the first category if Jesus hadn’t offered us a way out.

When we said yes to Christ, we became His and began to follow Him in mind, body and spirit.

We are “not guilty”!

We are free from Satan’s clutches. Free at last; thank God we are free! O what a feeling.

God has given us freedom through Jesus Christ. His Holy Spirit has given us power to live as God intends. The Holy Spirit is God’s guarantee of eternal life for those who believe in and follow Him.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Romans Chapter 8

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Romans:

There Is No Death in Jesus Christ

Refrain from the Wickedness of a Godless Life