“Look, he is coming with the clouds,” and “every eye will see him, even those who pierced him”; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.” So shall it be! Amen. —Revelation 1:7 The enemy military was closing in on the opposition. Every opposing eye could see or hear them coming. Their combined footsteps were like rolling thunder claps non-stop. The earth shook underneath them. There will be a generation living that will see the return of Jesus. The first time He came as the Lamb of God to take away the sin of the world (John 1:29). When He comes the next time He will be coming…

This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome… —I John 5:2-3 Children who truly love their parents are compliant children. Obedience for these children is not a burden, but they truly want to do what is right and please their parents. Their home is not a perfect home, but there is much more harmony in it than in other homes where children are rebellious. Those who truly love God, shown by being obedient to Him, love His church as well. The…

I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus… Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people. —Philemon 1:4-5, 7 Who are the believers you are thankful for? Do you remember them in prayer? What are you hearing about their love for God’s people and about their faith in the Lord Jesus? Are they a great joy and encouragement to you? Have you heard about how they have refreshed the hearts of the saints? We could also…

Tell Archippus: “See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.”—Colossians 4:17 “I gave your brother chores to do. Make sure he completes them before he goes out to play.” So were the words spoken by her dad as he was leaving for work. These chores were to a priority in the son’s life and not something left as the last to do because he had “better” things he wanted to be involved in like the neighborhood boys’ football game. No, he was to do the chores his dad gave him first and then he could play. How about you and I as followers of…

For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves… —Colossians 1:13 We were being tossed about on a very rough ocean in the night. The twelve foot boat stalled hours earlier, would not restart and the sea had continued to get progressively more unsettled. Water was coming into the boat as waves washed over it. We had to bail out the boat regularly. At mid-night the anchor let loose and we drifted further out in the ocean. Fortunately, it caught bottom again. Then about 4am we saw a light on the horizon. We got their attention with light…

But our citizenship is in heaven. —Philippians 3:20 …my fellow workers, whose names are written in the book of life. —Philippians 4:3 When I travel from one country to another I have to show my passport. It identifies the country I am a citizen of and my birth information— showing that I am alive. But, my passport is only good for a certain amount of time that allows me to exit my home country and enter another one. But those who follow the Lord Jesus have a Passport that never runs out and allows the “holder” when they leave this life to enter heaven. According to the verses above those…

1As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have…

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory. —Ephesians 1:13-14 You put a deposit down on merchandise and by so doing you are stating the intent of ownership. It could be a car, a house or anything else. You also get a receipt stating that you have put down a deposit and this guarantees that this object will be yours. The receipt is…

Paul tried to persuade them about Jesus. Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe. —Acts 28:23-24 Ten people told Thomas that they had seen the Lord. These were people that Thomas knew. They had spent much time together and had seen and experienced much together. But he was not convinced by them. No, he would not believe that Jesus had risen from the dead unless he saw Jesus Himself. Well, Thomas did see Jesus a week later and said, “My Lord and my God” (John 20:24-29). Jesus said ”Thomas you believed because you have seen. Blessed are those who have not seen and believe.” According…

I conformed to the strictest sect of our religion, living as a Pharisee. —Acts 26:5 There are those who go through the motions of being a follower of Jesus Christ, but it is only a show. They go to church on Sunday and sometimes there are those who go many times during the week thinking that by doing so gives them favor before God. These are people when you ask them if they know Jesus they will say, “I am not as bad as some people.” These are people who conform to a set of “what to do and what not to do” listed by themselves, someone else or an…