The Culture of Hope Founded on Faith
Jude, the Servant of Jesus Christ
Jude is the final epistle of the New Testament to start with reference to being “the bond-servant of Jesus Christ”. He also calls himself the “brother of James”. The author of Jude, then, was also the half-brother of Jesus. Jude does not directly cite his family relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ. Instead he connects himself with the leader of the church…..
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Peter, a Servant and an Apostle of Jesus Christ
I think that Peter understood service in the kingdom of God better than any of the other apostles. But his understanding was incomplete until after Jesus arose from the dead. Peter served Jesus as he would have attended to the needs of any earthly master, even to the point of fighting for Jesus’ life in the Garden of Gethsemene……
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James, a Servant of God and of Jesus Christ
James was another epistle writer who called himself a servant. In his case he called himself “a servant of God and of Jesus Christ”. He could have said he was “James, the half-brother of Jesus Christ”. But he didn’t. He could also have introduced himself as “James, the lead pastor of the church at Jerusalem”. But he didn’t.
Can…..
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Paul, a Servant of God
In Romans 1:1, Paul identifies himself as a “servant of Jesus Christ”. Likewise, he identifies as a “servant of God” in Titus 1:1. James, Peter, and Jude followed suit with identification as “a servant of God” in James 1:1, 2 Peter 1:1, and Jude 1:1. The New Testament contains a great deal of information about being a servant of God. It must be…..
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Habitual Prayer
For the Christian, the Bible makes it clear that we are to walk by faith, recognizing that whatever happens to us is by God’s permission and for His glory. Psalm 84:11-12 says, “For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory. No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, blessed is…..
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God’s Inclined Ear
On Wednesday I watched as dolphins slid in and out of the water just off the California coast. The occasional otter popped its head above water and numerous birds floated on the surface, dipping intermittently into the large school of fish roiling not far below. A woman from Israel stood next to me. In our conversation, the only thing about God in which she took…..
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Anniversary Thoughts
Forty-four years ago today, Dan and I were married. Recently I was thinking about his proposal. We had discussed the possibility of marriage before but he hadn’t actually popped the question. I don’t remember the topic of our conversation when he asked me to marry him. I told him I needed to pray about it. As we continued to talk God was reminding me that I…..
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The Cross of Christ
As my daffodils happily nod their heads in the sun and leaf buds start to appear on the rose bushes, I see springtime bursting out all over. It is always this time of year that we celebrate the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Is that because the earth reflects a sort of resurrection in the spring? No, it has nothing…..
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A Well-Remembered Song
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence oh, Lord; and take not thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10-12
I memorized these verses because of the song that is a verbatim rendering…..
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Because of His Good Pleasure
Ephesians 1:3-23 explains Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection as payment for our sins in terms of a financial transaction. If you wonder sometimes what to praise God for in your private worship time with Him, try reading this back to Him in your prayers.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings…..