“The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack” (Psalm 23:1 HCSB).

January 28, 2021

OUR CONTENTMENT IN CHRIST David, the shepherd-king, knew how sheep trusted their shepherd with every need. As he considered his relationship with God, he wrote of his total dependence and contentment to the Lord as his shepherd. He said that having the Lord as his shepherd meant that he lacked nothing, that he was in

“Whoever humbles himself like this child—this one is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:4 HCSB).

January 27, 2021

DESCENDING TO GREATNESS The disciples were constantly debating among themselves the question of who would be the greatest when Jesus came into His kingdom. They finally asked Jesus. He answered by calling a little child over to Him and saying that unless they repented of their sins and became as this child they wouldn’t even

“They pierced my hands and my feet” (Psalm 22:16 HCSB).

January 26, 2021

OUR SAVIOR PIERCED FOR US This Davidic psalm began with the question that Jesus cried out from the cross: “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?” (Psa. 22:1). David wrote this psalm with his own feeling, yet I wonder how much awareness he had that he was describing the coming Messiah’s death. Did

‘But He turned and told Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me because you’re not thinking about God’s concerns, but man’s.”’ (Matthew 16:23 HCSB).

January 25, 2021

CONFESSOR OR TRANSGRESSOR? Jesus had many hard sayings, but the teaching concerning His suffering, death and resurrection was the hardest for the disciples to receive. Bold Peter even attempted to rebuke Jesus for saying such things. But Jesus put him in his place with, “Get behind Me, Satan!” Poor Peter went from Peter the confessor,

“But no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah” (Matthew 16:4 HCSB).

January 24, 2021

THE SIGN OF JONAH The Pharisees and the Sadducees came to Jesus asking for a sign. He told them that they could read the signs in the sky to predict weather, but were not able to read the signs of the times. In other words, they could tell when it was going to rain, but

“But what comes out of the mouth comes from the heart, and this defiles a man” (Matthew 15:18 HCSB).

January 23, 2021

UNCLEAN HEART = UNCLEAN LIPS The Pharisees asked Jesus why His disciples didn’t follow the tradition of the elders by washing their hands before eating. He replied that it isn’t what goes into the mouth that defiles a man, but what comes out.   The word “defile,” means to make unclean or impure. Jesus pointed

“As He stepped ashore, He saw a huge crowd, felt compassion for them, and healed their sick” (Matthew 14:14 HCSB).

January 22, 2021

THE COMPASSION OF OUR SAVIOR After Jesus heard about the beheading of His relative, John the Baptist, He withdrew by boat to a remote place to be alone. However, as soon as He stepped ashore, He saw a huge crowd waiting for Him.   Can you imagine His grief? Can you understand His desire for

“He reached down from heaven and took hold of me; He pulled me out of deep waters” (Psalm 18:16 HCSB).

January 21, 2021

LOVE LIFTED ME David wrote this psalm to the Lord during the time when God had delivered him from the hand of Saul and his enemies. He felt like a drowning man that God had reached down and rescued.   Have you ever felt like David? The circumstances of life so overwhelming as to make

“Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s kingdom. Anyone who has ears should listen!” (Matthew 13:43 HCSB).

January 20, 2021

THOSE HIDDEN WILL ONE DAY SHINE #OYB Jan20: “Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s kingdom. Anyone who has ears should listen!”   THOSE HIDDEN WILL ONE DAY SHINE Christ’s parable of the wheat and tares concluded with this: “The righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s kingdom.” In

‘“I am not able to,” Joseph answered Pharaoh. “It is God who will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.”’ (Genesis 41:16 HCSB).

January 19, 2021

EXPECT GREAT THINGS; ATTEMPT GREAT THINGS The Pharoah of Egypt had a troubling dream and his cupbearer remembered that a Hebrew slave named Joseph had rightly interpreted his dream two years earlier. So Pharoah summoned Joseph and asked whether he could interpret dreams. Joseph answered that he was “not able to,” but that God was