What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? —Luke 9:25 If you could have all the money in the world, would that make you happy? What if you owned the whole world, would that make you happy? If you owned every animal on the planet, would that make you happy? How about if you plain and simply owned the entire universe, would that make you happy? People who are so focused on the temporal, material side of life will miss out on the spiritual, eternal aspect of life. Jesus told us that life “does not consist in the abundance…

Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water… —Matthew 14:29 The couple owned a farm and earned a good living. Life was good. The Lord put it on their heart to go into missions and move to a remote area to reach a tribal group. Most mission boards would not accept them because they were an older couple, but one mission did. This couple went through a period of training and then off they went into a very remote area of the world. In just about one year they saw the whole tribe they were serving among respond to the gospel and today that tribe is sending…

You will be hated by everyone because of me… —Matthew 10:22 Is there anything you hate— that is, anything you extremely dislike? Isis and other extremists Muslim groups hate Christians. It is a very sad commentary on humanity to have such a hatred for another person or group that you feel you just have to slaughter them— men, women and children. Yes, it is a sad commentary and especially when people believe the lie that they are doing this for God. For Christians to be so treated should not be a surprise. Jesus said, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged…

Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” —Matthew 9:37-38 My wife and I went to her family farm a couple years ago at harvest time. Five acres is being rented to a man who grows pumpkins and gourds. Apparently, we got there after the harvest took place, but as we look over the growing area there were still a great number of small pumpkins and gourds still in the field. In reality the harvest was not complete and my wife and I filled our vehicle for the children at our…

And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him. And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had…

The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him. —Luke 8:38-39 I was out for a walk yesterday and asked the Lord if there was anyone He would have me talk with. This older man was walking his dog and stopped to talk. At one point I mentioned that we were not getting any younger and if he had considered what will happen after death. He said he didn’t…

Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ… Matthew 11:2 The disciples of John reported all these things to him. —Luke 7:18 Today I will be spending all day at the State Prison meeting with men for discipleship. Personally, I cannot imagine living in this place. I know of men who have been behind those walls of concrete for 30 years. As I have been moving around the planet to various countries, these men have never moved from behind those walls. I have heard people talk about those in prison like they have it made because they get a place to sleep and meals— all they…

“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful…