“Go easy on those who hesitate in the faith. Go after those who take the wrong way.     Be tender with sinners, but not soft on sin. The sin itself stinks to high heaven.”Jude 1:22, 23 MSG Notice how we are exhorted to: “Go easy.” “Go after.” “Be tender.”   Those who are reluctant or having […]

Jesus said to him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”    “Oh? Tell me.”     “Two men were in debt to a banker. One owed five hundred silver pieces, the other fifty. Neither of them could pay up, and so the banker canceled both debts. Which of the two would be more grateful?”     […]

“Though some tongues just love the taste of gossip, those who follow Jesus have better uses for language than that.    Don’t talk dirty or silly. That kind of talk doesn’t fit our style. Thanksgiving is our dialect.” Ephesians 5:4 MSG So, for those of us who follow Jesus, our dialect (socially distinct variety of a […]

“Earlier there were a lot of priests, for they died and had to be replaced.    But Jesus’ priesthood is permanent. He’s there from now to eternity to save everyone who comes to God through him, always on the job to speak up for them.”Hebrews 7:23-25 MSG Don’t you love having an advocate? Someone who […]

“At that point Peter got up the nerve to ask, “Master, how many times do I forgive a brother or sister who hurts me? Seven?” Jesus replied, “Seven! Hardly. Try seventy times seven.”‭‭Matthew‬ ‭18:21-22‬ ‭MSG‬‬ Have you been hurt by the same person over and over again? Or perhaps you’re the one continually wounding your […]

“So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.     Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit […]

Jesus said to him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”     “Oh? Tell me.”     “Two men were in debt to a banker. One owed five hundred silver pieces, the other fifty. Neither of them could pay up, and so the banker canceled both debts. Which of the two would be more […]

“Crying is better than laughing. It blotches the face but it scours the heart.   On a good day, enjoy yourself; On a bad day, examine your conscience. God arranges for both kinds of days So that we won’t take anything for granted.” Ecclesiastes‬ ‭7‬:‭3, 14‬ MSG Do you laugh more than you cry? Or […]

Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard John’s witness and followed Jesus.    The first thing he did after finding where Jesus lived was find his own brother, Simon, telling him, “We’ve found the Messiah” (that is, “Christ”). He immediately led him to Jesus.   ‭‭John‬ ‭1:40-41 ‭MSG‬‬ What’s the very first […]

Jesus said to him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”     “Oh? Tell me.”     “Two men were in debt to a banker. One owed five hundred silver pieces, the other fifty. Neither of them could pay up, and so the banker canceled both debts. Which of the two would be more […]