The Beginning of the Story

Now it came about in the days when the judges governed, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the land of Moab with his wife and his two sons.  Ruth 1:1

Ruth 1:1 begins with a man who moves his family from Bethlehem in Judah to Moab during a famine. This first verse is loaded. The first famine that we see recorded in in Genesis during the time of Abraham. Eventually, famines were prophesied ahead of time so that wise people could prepare. Famines were an instrument that God used for His purpose. It does not say why in this passage, except in the last verse of Judges that, “the people did what was right in their own eyes.” Continue reading “The Beginning of the Story” →

Fix Your Eyes!

Just as Peter began to sink when he took his eyes off of Jesus, so can we. When we allow ourselves to be distracted by situations, we will find ourselves in trouble.  Matthew 14:30

Peter began to sink as he looked at the waves around him. He could only walk on water if he kept his eyes on Jesus, the very author of that miracle. But it doesn’t have to be something terrifying that gets us distracted. I’ve been experiencing a time of spiritual testing. I have been distracted by many small mosquito-like circumstances. They’ve been biting at my arms and legs, irritating my spiritual skin. Continue reading “Fix Your Eyes!” →

PUTTING IT TO DEATH

“He saved us, not on the basis of deeds with we have done in righteousness but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that being justified by His grace we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:5-7

That day when Jesus died, it was more than His body that was being put to death. It was even more than sin. He took on our identity so that we could acquire a new one. Jesus made us co-heirs with Himself. No longer are we children of wrath. If we fall into the arms of Jesus, then we are children of God. No longer are we condemned, prisoners destined for an eternity in Hell. We are free men (and women) who are destined for eternity in Heaven. No longer are we the same. We are a peculiar people, chosen to receive a marvelous inheritance as the adopted siblings redeemed by Jesus. Continue reading “Putting It To Death” →