Scripture: 1 John 1: 5-9

⁵ This is the message we heard from Jesus^[c] and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. ⁶ So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. ⁷ But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. ⁸ If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. ⁹ But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. 

Scripture Commentary: God sees a lying heart.

“Mirror on the wall, can I truly lie to you at all?” Yes, you can but you know you are lying. So, if you cannot lie to yourself, how can you lie to God? You can’t.

When God asks you a question, He already knows the answer. 1 John 1 is saying that if you are a Christian on the outside but are living a sinful life, you are not practicing the truth.

We aren’t perfect and never will be; however, we must try to follow Christ as best we can and not be hypocrites. Anything we do in the dark should we should also be able to do in the light.

Don’t deceive yourself into thinking that what you are doing is OK when the Holy Spirit says no. We can’t love God and court sin. Christ exposes and judges such deceit.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

1 John 1

Read Other Commentary from 1 John:

Do Not Believe Everything You Hear

Jesus Is the Christ, Born of God

Scripture: John 15: 1-2, 5

“I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. ² He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. ⁵ “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 

Scripture Commentary: We are all branches that belong to the vine of Jesus.

Jesus is the vine; we are the branches. God is the gardener who cares for us. God sent Jesus to show us the way to His kingdom. You are a fruitful disciple of our Lord by following Christ and spreading the gospel.

Go into the world and take His message. Don’t just go to church and do nothing else. If you are the latter, you are unproductive. Don’t become the branch that is cut off from the vine and thrown away. Be the branch that is pruned so it can bear much fruit.

The harvest is great; the workers are few.

Those who won’t bear fruit for God or who try to block the growth of God’s followers will be cut off from His life-giving love, grace, mercy and forgiveness. The harvest is great; the workers are few.

Are you in God’s vineyard, harvesting for Him, or are you just there looking around with your hands in your pockets?

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

John 15

Read Other Commentary from the Book of John:

Do You Know the Way to Heaven?

Jesus Is the Living Water

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5: 1, 7

For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. ⁷ (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

Scripture Commentary:

The earthly house that we call a body is only temporary; we will stay here for a limited time. This earthly world is only a stopping station for our trip to our permanent home, which is either God’s Kingdom or Satan’s hell.

We have a choice and a chance to choose which place we will spend eternity.

God gave us this earth of live on and to prepare ourselves. We are not here by accident or by a fluke of nature. God has a purpose for each of us.

Paul tells us that God has a place not made of human hands. Jesus says in part, “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself…” (John 14: 2-3).

Paul clearly states that our present bodies make us groan but when we die, we will not be spirits without bodies. We will have new bodies that will be perfect, without sickness, disease and pain. The wicked will cease and the weary will be given a place of rest.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scriptures Referenced:

2 Corinthians 5

John 14

Read Other Commentary from the Book of 2 Corinthians:

God’s Grace Is Sufficient For Your Needs

Are You Confirming Scripture or Conforming It?

Scripture: Psalm 119: 105

Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.

Scripture Commentary: The Bible lights the path of life.

As we walk on this path called life, some travel in darkness because they do not know about the true light of Jesus Christ. The earthly world has them in its grip. They go about life with no purpose. They either have no knowledge of Christ, have not accepted him as their Lord and Savior or have outright rejected him.

There are two paths in life we can choose to take.

To walk safely in the dark, we need light so we don’t stumble and fall. In the dark we may lose our way.

God’s Word (The Bible) is the light to show us the way ahead so we don’t stumble as we move through life. It reveals the entangling roots of false values and philosophies. John 8:12 says, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”

Jesus brings God’s presence, protection and guidance to our lives. Step out of the darkness and into God’s marvelous light.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scriptures Referenced:

Psalm 119

John 8

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Psalms:

You Are My God; Earnestly I Seek You

The Chaff Blows Away, the Grain Bears Fruit

Scripture: Matthew 26: 70-73

⁷⁰ But Peter denied it in front of everyone. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said. ⁷¹ Later, out by the gate, another servant girl noticed him and said to those standing around, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.^[k]” ⁷² Again Peter denied it, this time with an oath. “I don’t even know the man,” he said. ⁷³ A little later some of the other bystanders came over to Peter and said, “You must be one of them; we can tell by your Galilean accent.”

Scripture Commentary:

Peter’s speech betrayed him. Was it his accent as some of the bystanders said? Or was it that he denied Jesus … “I don’t even know the man.”

As a child of God you no longer talk like the people of this world. You have changed from the worldly to the Godly.

First, Peter tried to divert attention from himself. Second, he used an oath to deny Jesus. Third, he swore in his denial of Christ. We do this when we walk, talk or live an unchristian-like lifestyle.

When you’re given an opportunity to discuss Jesus Christ, don’t walk away or act like Jesus isn’t in your life. If you find yourself not wanting to talk about Christ, then like Peter, you are denying Christ.

Be careful. Satan is waiting to recruit the faith of non-believers who question the Son of God.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Matthew 26

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Matthew:

The Wise Take Time to Prepare

Jesus, Remember Me

Scripture: John 11: 35

³⁵ Then Jesus wept.

Scripture Commentary:

These two words, “Jesus wept,” are profound. We are reading about the human part of Jesus Christ. He showed empathy by grieving for someone who was loved.

In Luke 19: 41, we read, “Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it,” seeing the pain and sin in the people. His love was so great that he could only weep for the lost.

As Jesus looks down on us today the tears are probably rolling down his cheeks.

Jesus Christ shows that he cares enough for the people of Jerusalem to weep over them, and his weeping carries over to today.

The people of yesterday rejected God’s salvation in Jesus Christ when He offered it to them. The same offer is on the table today. God’s grace, mercy and salvation are offered to everyone on the planet. Why do we not accept it?

Satan offers silver and gold, and the so-called good life. This is an offer of complete damnation into an eternal life of hell.

Jesus wasn’t afraid to reveal his true feelings for Jerusalem and Lazarus.

In his human form, Jesus experienced the loss of a friend. His friendship is extended to each of us today.

Be honest with God; do not hide anything from Him. When Jesus saw the people weeping for Lazarus, he wept. Likewise, Jesus weeps for us today because his love for us has not changed.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scriptures Referenced:

John 11

Luke 19

Read Other Commentary from the Book of John:

Jesus, the Light of the World

Jesus Sent Us the Bread of Life

Scripture: Psalm 146: 1-4

¹ Praise the Lord! Let all that I am praise the Lord. ² I will praise the Lord as long as I live. I will sing praises to my God with my dying breath. ³ Don’t put your confidence in powerful people; there is no help for you there. ⁴ When they breathe their last, they return to the earth, and all their plans die with them.

Scripture Commentary: Place your trust in the One who can.

Trust not in man for he is only here for a moment in time. Trust God. His Word is forever. The psalmist portrays man as an inadequate savior, a false hope. Even princes cannot deliver.

We must put our trust in God.

He is our only hope. We are lost in this stopping station called earth. The last four psalms overflow with praise. Each begins and ends with “Praise the Lord.” Together they show us where, why and how to trust and praise God. These psalms take our minds off ourselves and our problems and shortcomings. They focus us on God and give us the hope to go on.

Praise and trust in the Lord.

Praising and trusting God causes us to know how much He loves us and how much we love Him. As verse 8 says,  “The Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are weighed down. The Lord loves the godly.” Strive to become more and more like Him. The more you learn about God and His ways, the better you will understand yourself and learn what God has for you.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Psalm 146

Proverbs 3 (Referenced in the description)

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Psalms:

God Shows Us Great Mercy

Open Your Heart and Be Blessed By God

Scripture: Psalm 14: 1-2

Only fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and their actions are evil; not one of them does good! ² The Lord looks down from heaven on the entire human race; he looks to see if anyone is truly wise, if anyone seeks God.

Scripture Commentary: Do you seek God?

What does God see when He looks at us today? We are His children; He is our Father, our God. God knows we aren’t perfect but are we trying? Is He looking at disobedient, hateful, vindictive people or kind, loving, prayerful people who not only love God but also are obedient to His laws and way of life? Do we seek God?

If you believe there is no Good, then you are lost and an atheist. This person ignores the evidence that God exists or s/he is just wicked and refuses to live by God’s truths. You become this person when you reject God and live as you see fit. You give way to the flesh and the world’s way of life.

To live and speak in direct defiance of God is utterly foolish. When the day of judgment comes and you stand before God, He will ask what you did in His name. What is your answer? Because on that day of your judgment, you will stand with either God or Satan.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Psalm 14

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Psalms:

God Says To “Ask of Me, and I Shall Give”

Lord, Cleanse Me for I Have Sinned

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2: 5, 10, 15

⁵ I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God. ¹⁰ But^[e] it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets.  ¹⁵ Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others. 

Scripture Commentary:

Trust in the power of God. Unbelievers do not know God. They go about life lost, with no purpose. God’s plan is not in their heart, mind or soul. They have rejected Jesus Christ in their life. Christ’s death and resurrection is misunderstood.

The Holy Spirit is in each of us but if you do not accept Jesus Christ, it is asleep.

The Holy Spirit can only comfort and guide if it is called upon. The promise of salvation is revealed only to those who believe in Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection, and they place their faith in his hands.

Through Paul, the Holy Spirit showed us the path to salvation and eternity with God, the Father. This world is preparation, a stopping station for our real home in the Kingdom with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

1 Corinthians 2

Read Other Commentary from the Book of 1 Corinthians:

Can Others See the Temple of God in You?

God Is the Foundation

Scripture: Psalm 130: 1-4

¹ From the depths of despair, O Lord, I call for your help. ² Hear my cry, O Lord. Pay attention to my prayer. ³ Lord, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive? ⁴ But you offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear you.

Scripture Commentary: Cry out to God from the depths of despair.

There are times in life when we feel the depths of despair. We feel hopeless, discouraged, and life seems impossible. Times like these make us feel isolated and distant from God. This is precisely when we need God the most.

When you’re feeling sorry for yourself, surrender to God and tell Him your concerns. God is merciful. He forgives and forgets; He heals and He loves. We are His children.

Crying out to God will turn our attention to the only One who can really help.

Do not block your access to God by placing a wall between you and Him. Each second of the day God gives us a chance to talk to Him and to redeem ourselves. He hears our voice and listens to our plea.

To you who are reading this message, God has given you another chance to talk to Him. He holds no grudges. He forgives and forgets. God puts our sins as far away as the east is from the west and they are forgiven and forgotten.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Reference:

Psalm 130

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Psalms:

Lord, Teach Me Your Ways

Praise God with trumpet, harp, organs and cymbals