Philippians 2:3-4 says: "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." (ESV) The VOICE version illuminates those verses like this: "Don’t let selfishness and prideful agendas take over. Embrace true…

In 2 Corinthians 9:7-8 Paul talks about giving and what our hearts should be like in doing so: "Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every go…

Psalm 126:1-6 says: "When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.” The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad. Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like streams in the…

A humble Christian is a holy Christian. Our heavenly Father is faithful to work humility in those He loves by pruning them through trials and tribulations. But Jesus, Peter, James, and Paul encourage us to cooperate with the Lord by humbling ourselves. We do this by being obedient to the Lord's commands in scripture. One set of commands seems a bit…

When Jesus' earthly ministry was first beginning, He told His fishermen friends, who'd caught nothing all night, to once again cast their nets back into the water. Despite low expectations, they complied, and their catch was enormous. (Perhaps it was humbling for fisherman to be out fished by a Carpenter!) Then after Jesus' death and resurrection, …

The book of Acts gives three accounts of the conversion of Saul (a.k.a. Paul). While we glean different things from each account, there's one glaringly phrase spoken by Jesus that should make us all sit up and take notice. Three times we read the following exchange between our Lord and the chief enemy of The Church: Jesus: "Saul, Saul, why are you …

When the Holy Spirit came upon Jesus' followers on the Jewish festival of Pentecost, it was clear things would never be the same. Transcending history, cultures, and national identities, Jerusalem was ground zero as the regenerative power of the Holy Spirit was coming down and going forth to make dead hearts come alive in Christ. When the mighty ac…

It's been well said that for forgiveness to take place, it only takes one of the aggrieved to forgive the other. But for reconciliation to take place it takes two, or both parties, to so engage. More astoundingly is that the God of the Universe has initiated peace and reconciliation with His enemies--and that would include us! Romans 5:1-2 says: "T…

1 Peter 2:2-5 says: "Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness. You are coming to Christ, who is the Living Cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but He was chosen by God for g…

Jesus' brother, James, has much to say about genuine faith and accompanying works. In James 1:22-25 he writes: "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at …