truth – Page 6 – Be Still…

Matthew 7:24-29 – What Does Your Future Look Like?

Jesus concludes his Sermon on the Mount with these words of wisdom. The people were amazed. We should be amazed, even if we’ve heard this time and again. The messages and truth that Jesus has shared with us over the last two chapters in Matthew’s gospel are golden. Jesus puts in a nutshell what his obedient followers should do. He’s made it clear.

Our future is up to us. Will we listen to Jesus and have a firm foundation on which to build our lives? Or will we return to life as we knew it, going through the motions, scraping by, not paying much attention to what Jesus has set out for us? The Holy Spirit is stirring inside us, will we pay attention?

Ruth 1:19-22 – Limiting Beliefs

Read Ruth 1:19-22

We can all remember seeing an old friend after many years. Maybe it was at a class reunion, maybe at the local coffee shop, or even at your children’s ball game. If you’re like me, it always feels good to see old friends. The years often evaporate as you’re catching up. Here, Naomi doesn’t seem especially happy to see her friends, despite their eagerness to see her.

The cultural understanding here would be that names are supposed to be a reflection of character. For example, if our name was “HAPPY,” it would be assumed we were indeed, “happy.” It’s not clear to me what the name Naomi would suggest, but she definitely preferred “Mara” because it meant “empty.” Naomi had lost her two boys and her husband. Imagine that! She had every right to feel lonely and empty. Continue reading “Ruth 1:19-22 – Limiting Beliefs”

2 Peter 3:14-18 – Grow in Grace

Read 2 Peter 3:14-18

Today’s reading is full of encouragement in our troubled world. We see corruption. We see the Bible being watered down or misinterpreted. We see people being led astray by all sorts of new age spirituality. How do we respond in the midst of this?

It would be easy to want to close the door and hide, never to set foot outside again lest we are caught up in the distortion. Is that what he meant when he said, “make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight.” I don’t think it needs to be that drastic. We do need to be on guard. Continue reading “2 Peter 3:14-18 – Grow in Grace”

2 Peter 2:1-21 – False Teachers

Read 2 Peter 2:1-21

We are reading the whole chapter today after I spent some time looking at how I would break it into portions. While this is a very important warning for us, I couldn’t see myself focusing on false teachers for multiple days. I didn’t want you to think that this was not important, because it is! There are many false teachers and sometimes it’s hard to recognize them. Continue reading “2 Peter 2:1-21 – False Teachers”

2 Peter 1:12-21 – What Does Scripture Say?

Read 2 Peter 1:12-21

We are reminded here that Peter has first-hand knowledge of Jesus. He was part of the inner circle. He experienced things and witnessed miraculous wonders the others did not. It’s probable the people for whom he wrote this had never read an account of the Transfiguration (vv 16-18), but it was a story often told to identify Jesus. He was God’s son.

The life Peter had lived following Jesus’ death and resurrection had to have been thrilling. Frightening at times because he was not “politically correct” or even religiously correct. Many early Christians were persecuted and killed for their beliefs. God used Peter up until the end, and here Peter seems to be preparing his audience for his expected death. Peter wants them to remember all he has said and not fall away. How do you make a story memorable? Continue reading “2 Peter 1:12-21 – What Does Scripture Say?”