Proverbs 28:1 The wicked flee when no one is pursuing, but the righteous are bold as a lion. To the one who is at odds with God, everyone is an enemy. They have no protector. No one to turn to. They must be on constant watch. In order to defend themselves from who knows what, they must have a weapon always at hand. Everyone they meet is suspect. Is this person going to harm them in some way? Cheat them?…
II Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline. Another word for “timidity” is “cowardice” or “fearfulness.” God gives us holy boldness. This word “power” is “dynamis” from which we derive our word “dynamite.” It refers to strength and ability, a power which resides within itself. God gives us His power to perform miracles and to have moral power and excellence of soul. It’s that kind of power which…
I John 5:10 The one who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; the one who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the witness that God has borne concerning His Son. When we put our faith and trust in Jesus, we have a new heart. We soon learn God can be trusted in even the smallest whispered requests offered in Jesus’ name. When John baptized Jesus in…
Colossians 2:15 When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him. Most of us know the Easter story, but fewer know the scope of what Jesus accomplished for us in those terrible hours. Jesus removed our sin (John 1:29 and Hebrews 9:26). He removed God’s wrath from us (Hebrews 2:17). He reconciled us to God (Romans chapters 10 and 11). When Jesus was whipped He purchased our healing…
Psalm 118:6 The Lord is for me; I will not fear; what can man do to me? The enemy, the liar and father of lies (John 8:44), the accuser of the brethren (Revelation 12:10), uses fear as a tool against us. He whispers a lie or a half-truth in our ear and then waits as a patient fisherman for us to seize on that bait. He cranks us closer by adding a few “what if’s” or a couple of “if…
Ephesians 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Today’s scripture deals with the last two pieces of armor Paul tells us to put on. He says God supplies us a helmet and a sword. When we receive Christ, our thoughts are no longer open season for Satan. We no longer have to follow his suggestions and listen to and obey his bidding. God changes our thought patterns. We…