“Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples” (John 13:35 NLT).

May 24, 2019

LOVING ONE ANOTHER IS THE PROOF Our greatest proof to the world that we are disciples of Jesus is that we love one another. While logical arguments, philosophical proofs, and existential questions may be helpful to open the mind. Our most powerful persuasion is love. Loving one another we will “prove to the world” that

“So Judas left at once, going out into the night” (John 13:30 NLT).

May 23, 2019

SIN GOES OUT INTO THE NIGHT The one who leaves Jesus and his disciples to go “out into the night” will hurt Christ and his church, but in the end will be the one most harmed by that decision. That is what sin does. It caused Adam to hide in the shadows of the garden

“The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone” (Psalm 118:22 NLT).

May 22, 2019

CHRIST IS OUR CHIEF CORNERSTONE Every stone in the Hebrew Temple was inspected for flaws by the builders. The stones where cut from a quarry some distance away and had to not only fit their designated location in the Temple, but they had to be without imperfection to support its weight. Of all the stones

“When David and his men saw the ruins and realized what had happened to their families, they wept until they could weep no more” (1 Samuel 30:3-4 NLT).

May 21, 2019

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN BOTH PROTECTED AND CORRECTED AT THE SAME TIME? In the season when David was on the run from King Saul, he allied himself with the Philistines. Yet, on the eve before they went into battle against Israel, they sent David and his men away. In this, God protected David. For the

‘Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!”’ (John 11:43 NLT).

May 20, 2019

DO YOU KNOW THE ONE WHO CAN COMMAND THE DEAD TO RISE? The One who had said, “Let there be light,” later entered into this sin darkened world to bring light once again. He spoke resurrection life to a four-days-dead man, shouting, “Lazarus, come forth!” He called to him specifically because otherwise all the dead

“I walk in the Lord’s presence as I live here on earth” (Psalms 116:9 NLT).

May 19, 2019

ARE YOU AWARE OF THE LORD’S PRESENCE IN YOUR LIFE? The psalmist wrote of his constant awareness of the Lord’s presence in His life even as he attended to the everyday things of life here on earth. It is a psalm of praise for the Lord’s attentive ear and caring heart, which the psalmist had

“David then went to live in the strongholds of En-gedi” (1 Samuel 23:29 NLT).

May 18, 2019

GOD’S PROVISION AND PREPARATION IN THE WILDERNESS David fled from King Saul to live in the Judean wilderness of En Gedi, which provided both caves to live in and springs from which to drink. God provided for David in the wilderness. And although it was a very difficult time, it was also a time of

“For the despondent, every day brings trouble; for the happy heart, life is a continual feast” (Proverbs 15:15 NLT).

May 17, 2019

HEART CONDITION DETERMINES PERCEPTION Our heart condition determines how we perceive life. Yet, how do we have a “happy heart?” David knew something about this. When life circumstances turned from bad to worse around him, the Bible says that he “encouraged himself in the Lord” (1 Sam. 30:6). His circumstances didn’t immediately change, but his

“Whatever Saul asked David to do, David did it successfully” (1 Samuel 18:5 NLT).

May 16, 2019

THE LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLES SEEN IN DAVID AND SAUL David was an obedient and enthusiastic servant of King Saul. And God gave David success. At first, his success led to the king’s favor, but as his victories grew, Saul’s favor turned to jealousy. In all of this, God was at work, moving Saul out and David

“David replied to the Philistine, ‘You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied'” (1 Samuel 17:45 NLT).

May 15, 2019

IN WHOSE NAME DO YOU COME? What David said to Goliath as they closed for battle revealed his heart and passion for God’s great name. It was this same David who inspired of the Holy Spirit wrote, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our