Jesus taught hard, radical things. During his sermon on the mount, he said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’” (Matthew 5:43). It seems that, by the time of Christ, the religious leaders had taken the Old Testament command to ‘love your neighbor’ to mean one should also hate their enemy. Their teaching was, of course, a perversion of God’s word. Jesus corrected, and then addended their teaching. “But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). (15 Minutes, 4000 Words)
Read moreThe Life of David: Hearing God’s Voice (1 Samuel 23)
Every human has had the experience of being misunderstood. In some instances, we feel the problem lies with our audience. Sometimes we think the problem lies with us, especially when it feels impossible to connect with our innermost thoughts and communicate them accurately. Throughout our lives, we find difficulty in understanding the thoughts, intentions, and desires of even those we love, those closest to us, let alone other mortals. Communication is difficult. (18 Minutes/4500 Words)
Read moreThe Life of David - Transformed by the Secret King (1 Samuel 22:1–2)
There are episodes in David's life that serve as an excellent picture of the God-hearted man. He went through human struggles, complete with human failures, and our hearts are often encouraged by the way God worked in his life. Our most recent episodes are examples of David's human weakness. (11 Minutes/3000 Words)
Read moreThe Life of David: Go Into the Undesirable (1 Samuel 20)
God is before all things, created all things, upholds all things, is above all things, owns all things, and is the rightful ruler of all things. “Whatever the LORD pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps” (Psalm 135:6). We call this the sovereignty of God. He is in control, which is good to understand, for we are not. (12 Minutes/3000 Words)
Read moreThe Life of David: Protected by God (1 Samuel 19)
Early in the public ministry of Christ, during a time when His popularity was shooting forth, He taught in a house in Capernaum. His presence had rocked that region, so the house overflowed with people. (14 Minutes/3700 Words)
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