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We always carry the death of Jesus in our body, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who live are always given over to death because of Jesus, so that Jesus' life may also be revealed in our mortal flesh. So death works in us, but life in you. - 2 Corinthians 4:10-12 HCSB

Dying to self means we no longer stand condemned by the old quasi-ascetic judgments of human religion; religiously unclean food or drink, ceremonial festivals, new moons or Sabbath days. These things are mere shadows; insubstantial, ephemeral ghosts of the real thing –…  ( Click for more )

We always carry the death of Jesus in our body, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who live are always given over to death because of Jesus, so that Jesus' life may also be revealed in our mortal flesh. So death works in us, but life in you. - 2 Corinthians 4:10-12 HCSB

We rise each morning with this thought on our mind, “I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live today in the flesh, I will live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”[1]

Then we go out to face our challenges, seeking…  ( Click for more )

We always carry the death of Jesus in our body, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who live are always given over to death because of Jesus, so that Jesus' life may also be revealed in our mortal flesh. So death works in us, but life in you. - 2 Corinthians 4:10-12 HCSB

Elohim is not interested in religiosity or ascetic practices. His foremost concern is a broken spirit. He is always attracted to broken, humbled hearts.[1]

While it is true that He considers our physical deaths valuable,[2] what He truly seeks from His disciples is an ability…  ( Click for more )

"Don't handle, don't taste, don't touch"? All these regulations refer to what is destroyed by being used up; they are human commands and doctrines. Although these have a reputation of wisdom by promoting ascetic practices, humility, and severe treatment of the body, they are not of any value against fleshly indulgence. - Colossians 2:21-23 HCSB

There once was a poor man whose job was being the king’s janitor. The work was considered by most to be physically demanding and tedious. However, this man was known for whistling cheerful tunes as he swept. He would sometimes…  ( Click for more )

One person gives freely, yet gains more; another withholds what is right, only to become poor. A generous person will be enriched, and the one who gives a drink of water will receive water. - Proverbs 11:24-25 HCSB

There once was a wealthy man whose riches were only surpassed by his greed. He lived alone, lest a wife should spend his money on frivolous dresses. He had no children and congratulated himself on not having to buy toys.

In that same town, there lived a godly man who knew that true wealth lay in love extended. This tzaddik heard that a poor family was in trouble.…  ( Click for more )

Next he will take the two goats and place them before the LORD at the entrance to the tent of meeting. After Aaron casts lots for the two goats, one lot for the LORD and the other for Azazel, he is to present the goat chosen by lot for the LORD and sacrifice it as a sin offering. But the goat chosen by lot for Azazel is to be presented alive before the LORD to make purification with it by sending it into the wilderness for Azazel. - Leviticus 16:7-10 HCSB

When the high priest was finished purifying the most holy place, the tabernacle and the altar, he would be given a live male…  ( Click for more )

But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ – Philippians 3:8

I am something of an expert on forgetfulness, seeing as I routinely lose money. I tend to use it as a page holder instead of its original, intended purpose. I often lose my way as I travel around in the pursuit of pastoral duties because I am thinking…  ( Click for more )

For it is clear that He does not reach out to help angels, but to help Abraham's offspring. - Hebrews 2:16 HCSB

Whenever we struggle with low self-worth, we need to meditate on the ramifications of this verse. The only begotten Son of God did not die for angels.

The angels, faced with Lucifer’s pitiful hubris,[1] made their decision to either remain loyal to their Sovereign or to join the rebel’s camp. Those who chose the side of sin were locked into their decision and their fate was sealed. A place called the Lake of Fire was prepared for them.[2] They know…  ( Click for more )

The Spirit Himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God's children, and if children, also heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ--seeing that we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us. - Romans 8:16-18 HCSB

A godly woman loved to attend the lectures of a local tzaddik (righteous elder). Her husband was not a believer and had grown jealous of the love and respect the woman had for the holy man. One day, the tzaddik’s…  ( Click for more )

So the LORD said to Moses, "Tell Aaron: Take your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt--over their rivers, canals, ponds, and all their water reservoirs--and they will become blood. There will be blood throughout the land of Egypt, even in wooden and stone containers. – Exodus 17:19 HCSB

There are two principle ways in which people approach the miracles described in the Bible. Some say that each was completely supernatural and that there were no natural explanations. Others say that though the timing was fortuitous, the events were natural phenomena…  ( Click for more )

Dear friends, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself just as He is pure. - 1 John 3:2-3 HCSB

I watched an interesting TV show on which the host helped make terra cotta architectural ornaments and facings. He had to first make the terra cotta material before he could pour it into huge moulds and it was that initial step that caught my eye.

Terra cotta is hard-fired clay that is brownish red in color…  ( Click for more )

An inheritance obtained early in life is not a blessing in the end. – Proverbs 20:21 (NLT)

Mohandas Karamachand Gandhi and Solomon ben David both agree. Wealth obtained without work is a curse, not a blessing. Gandhi listed what he termed the Seven Deadly Sins of society and put wealth without work at the top. Why? Why did Solomon, probably the richest man in the world in his day, and who inherited most of it from his father, King David, say that it was not a blessing in the end?

Ill-gotten gain has no lasting value, but right living can save your life. (Proverbs 10:2)…  ( Click for more )

“Your unfailing love is better to me than life itself; how I praise You!” Psalm 63:3

There are few things in life more irritating than a spoiled brat. We hate hearing that whining tone from our kids. So, why use the same tone with God? He gives us so much. How grateful are we? Every time something comes along that we don’t particularly care for, we murmur and complain. “Why me?” we ask. We develop negative attitudes and wonder why we haven’t heard from God lately.

We should be grateful for anything we get. We were the ones who broke the…  ( Click for more )

Women received their dead raised to life again. Some men were tortured, not accepting release, so that they might gain a better resurrection, and others experienced mockings and scourgings, as well as bonds and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawed in two, they died by the sword, they wandered about in sheepskins, in goatskins, destitute, afflicted, and mistreated. The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts, mountains, caves, and holes in the ground. All these were approved through their faith, but they did not receive what was promised, since God had provided…  ( Click for more )

We are all skilled in the art of making excuses. We try to obtain exemption or release for what we know we should have done. Excuses are offered by the very young for failure to do household chores. As children grow older, they are confronted by more situations in life which often require excuses; such as being late or failing to do one's homework. Adults find it necessary to offer excuses for being late to work, or being late in paying bills, or forgetting appointments. We have heard most of the excuses; they are all too familiar. No…  ( Click for more )

“And he shall make restitution for the holy thing he has defiled.” Leviticus 5:16

A woman once went to her pastor and confessed to the sin of gossip. “God has forgiven me, hasn’t He? I asked Him to forgive me,” she asked.

“Certainly God has forgiven you,” the pastor assured her, “and you didn’t have to tell me of your sin if you didn’t want to. But in telling me, you can get help to make amends.”

“Make amends? What do you mean?” She asked. “It’s not like I really hurt anyone.”…  ( Click for more )

If anyone else thinks he has grounds for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised the eighth day; of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, persecuting the church; as to the righteousness that is in the law, blameless. But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ. More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of Him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them filth,…  ( Click for more )

"Two men went up to the temple complex to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee took his stand and was praying like this: 'God, I thank You that I'm not like other people--greedy, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of everything I get.' "But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even raise his eyes to heaven but kept striking his chest and saying, 'God, turn Your wrath from me--a sinner!' I tell you, this one went down to his house justified rather than the other; because everyone…  ( Click for more )

Brood of vipers! How can you speak good things when you are evil? For the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart. - Matthew 12:34 HCSB

As we previously saw, Jesus used common, everyday language to deal with people and purposefully eschewed the use of “religious language”, unless pitching His teachings to a group of rabbis. Jesus was often very sarcastic and did not mind insulting the powers that be. He was more than willing to call them fools and deride them for hypocritical behavior. Once, when Jesus was railing on the Pharisees, a teacher of the Law spoke up…  ( Click for more )

When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to the place of his baptism, he said to them, "Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? - Matthew 3:7 HCSB

For many Christians who were raised on King James English, our church can be quite a shock. They may be used to culturally irrelevant sermons preached in rancidly sweet tones. They are used to (at best) heated discussions over whether women should wear pants or (at worst) smooth, silver-tongued addresses on daisies, puppy dogs and butterflies.

In contrast, we use blunt language to discuss…  ( Click for more )

Listen, my son, to your father's instruction, and don't reject your mother's teaching, for they will be a garland of grace on your head and a gold chain around your neck. - Proverbs 1:8-9 HCSB

A rich, godly man had a rebellious son who caused him much grief. All the son ever wanted to do was party, drink and run around with wild women. Though the father repeatedly tried to teach his son the advantages of righteous living, the son never listened. He was too caught up in his pleasures to hear what his father was saying.

Finally, the father called the son to his bedside and…  ( Click for more )

God, create a clean heart for me and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not banish me from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore the joy of Your salvation to me, and give me a willing spirit. - Psalm 51:10-12 HCSB

A king enjoyed playing chess with one of his officers. Now the king was very good and nearly always won which frustrated the officer to no end. One day, while the king was distracted, the officer cheated by removing one of the king’s knights. Sure enough, the officer managed to win shortly thereafter. However, his sin beset his conscience…  ( Click for more )

Now the end of all things is near; therefore, be clear-headed and disciplined for prayer. Above all, keep your love for one another at full strength, since love covers a multitude of sins. - 1 Peter 4:7-8 HCSB

We often hear “love covers a multitude of sins” quoted as a suggestion to overlook sin. However, when taken in context, the true meaning of the verse is that if we pray for others in a disciplined and clear-headed manner and work at loving each other, many of OUR OWN sins will be covered in Hashem’s eyes. This fits very neatly with the principle of…  ( Click for more )

"Then, after he had summoned him, his master said to him, 'You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Shouldn't you also have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?' And his master got angry and handed him over to the jailers until he could pay everything that was owed. So My heavenly Father will also do to you if each of you does not forgive his brother from his heart." - Matthew 18:32-35 HCSB

The parable of the unmerciful slave shows just how sinful an unforgiving heart is. The king forgave one slave a tremendous amount, more…  ( Click for more )