And his name will be the hope of all the world. —Matthew 12:21 What or who is your hope placed in today? I was recently talking with someone who was putting their hope in his girl friend. She broke off the relationship and he is devastated. She was the focus of his hope. Another person’s hope was their job and when they were laid off their life fell apart. There were the parents who put their hope in their children and when their children did not turn out like they had hoped, they were guilt ridden. Those who put their hope in their health are overwhelmed when their diagnoses is…

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” —Matthew 11:28-30 It is amazing how powerful hydraulics are. Pick any piece of heavy equipment and the amount of work that can be done compared to manual labor is astounding. Even with a small tractor the hydraulics can accomplish so much more than the strength a person or…

You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell the rulers and other unbelievers about me. When you are arrested, don’t worry about how to respond or what to say. God will give you the right words at the right time. For it is not you who will be speaking—it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. —Matthew 10:18-20 Recently I watch a light-hearted video of police officers lip-sinking to a well known song. With all the bad attitudes toward police that is happening in the U.S. it was nice to see these guys, even…

For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners. —Matthew 9:13 “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.” —Matthew 8:37-38 Hospitals exist because of people who are sick. Medical staff is needed to serve these sick people. Both the hospital and staff exist because of sickness. So too this is why the church exists, because of spiritually sick people. Those who are part of the church, the ones who have truly trusted the Lord Jesus Christ,…

Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with his disciples. Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!” Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm. The disciples were amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked. “Even the winds and waves obey him!” —Matthew 8:23-27 A children’s song goes like this: “With Jesus in the boat we can smile in the storm,…

Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions. —Matthew 7:20 Oak trees produce acorns. Apple trees produce apples. Orange trees produce oranges. Pear trees produce pears. What a tree is so it produces. What do you and I produce? What is seen in our life comes from who we are on the inside. We may try to hide what we are on the inside, but we can’t hide it all. Just as a tree can’t help but produce fruit, so a person cannot but produce the life that comes from within. Who are you and I? It is seen…

If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins. —Matthew 6:14-15 Steve and Annie Chapman sing a song, “Two Children” and it is a true story. The children had an abusive dad. The son lived a life of peace, but the daughter was filled with bitterness and hate until she died. It was that bitterness and hatred that killed her. The son could live in peace because, even though his dad was dead, he forgave him for all that he had done. The daughter did not forgive. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f93-M7lA6BQ&index=3&list=PLfHd5db8LujBEEAV6pPwKHfwmIwdfqYew Fellow follower of…

If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. —Matthew 5:7 Have you ever come in contact with a grumpy person? I am sure you have. It could have been a teacher, an employer, a cashier, but their face spoke volumes. They were not a happy camper and their words backed up their look. How about you and I? Are we kind to all people or to only those we are friends with and those who are agreeable toward us? When is the last time you or I made a kind gesture toward a person other than a friend— even…

“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect,…

In the land of Zebulun and of Naphtali, beside the sea, beyond the Jordan River, in Galilee where so many Gentiles live, the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light. And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow, a light has shined.” —Matthew 4:15-16 I was in Iceland for a year when I was in the military. This time of the year in New Hampshire reminds me a little of that place— especially the cloudy, gloominess that hangs over us during the winter. I arrived in Iceland during December when it is dark most of the time. The sun would not even…