THE WICKED SUPPORT WICKEDNESS Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted.  And they had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas.  So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?”  For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up.  Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today in a dream.”  Now the chief priests and the elders…

NO GOOD REASON FOR NOT BEING A SERVANT! For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?  And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?  And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ —Matthew 25:35-39             Many wonder about what…

BE FLOURISHING IN PROCLAIMING OUR LORD The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.  They are planted in the house of the LORD; they flourish in the courts of our God.  They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, to declare that the LORD is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him. —Psalm 91:12-15             Are you flourishing?  To flourish is to grow and thrive, to increase and prosper, to be doing well.  Are you?  Think of a healthy tree that is really thriving.  Are you like that in your relationship with our Lord and…

HE INVITES “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. Again he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.’ But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers…

HARD, BUT NOT IMPOSSIBLE, FOR THE RICH TO BE SAVED Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. —Matthew 19:24        I’ve read that in some eastern countries the proverb reads that “it is easier for an elephant to go through the eye of a needle.”  The main point of this proverb is that it is hard for a rich person to be saved.  Why?  Because they trust is in their riches and they will not trust the Lord.  “When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and…