Have you been in a conversation where you sense that if you push your point any harder it’s going to turn into a fight? In your mind you can look at the edge of the dam and realize that little leak is about to cause a full on burst. And yet how often do we push through anyway. This happens a lot in marriages between a husband and wife. But how do we “stop contention before a quarrel starts”? You simply need to be willing to turn from the situation and look straight into the face of your loving Savior “who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return.” (1 Peter 2:23)

God did not put us on this earth to set the record straight or prove our point. He put us here to reflect His grace, mercy, and love. The next time you see a leak in the dam, look to Him and be thankful for His forgiveness and let it go.

Buttoning the lip,

Pastor Gerard Deleeuw

The English language is not the best language to describe love. The same word love is used to describe our love for our wives, our cars, or chocolate chip cookies. In the Greek language, there are multiple words for love. Included in those words is the one used in this verse, agape. It describes a love that gives of self and doesn’t expect to be repaid. It is the love God has for us.

People think because God is love, the opposite, love is God, is also true, but that’s not the case. Just because we love something doesn’t mean that feeling comes from God. We can have love of those things listed above and we can also love things God would absolutely abhor.

If you have given your life to Jesus, understand it’s because God is love and offered a sacrifice of His Son for your benefit. He did this despite the fact we don’t deserve it and can in no way pay Him back. We just need to accept God’s love for us and live our lives accordingly.

Loving God’s love,

Pastor Ron Kitchell

A good friend is willing to wound us with loving correction. Though the wounds really hurt, they are indeed expression of his love and true friendship. His efforts are made to help, to heal, to restore and deliver. The fair weather friend however is much like the kisses of an enemy. He will tell you what you want to hear, will feign concern but will be of no real help. Seek friends that are honest with you, they are few and far between, but worth their weight in gold.

Wanting to be a faithful friend,

Pastor Jack Abeelen

Deuteronomy 31:6

Fear is to the Devil what faith is to the Lord. That is, Satan responds to, takes advantage of, and delights in fear the same way our Lord responds to, works through, and delights in faith. When I don’t know how the bills will get paid or if the relationship will be restored, or if the Covid-19 virus will prevail, the Devil will try to get me to become full of anxiety and fear. God, however, “has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7).

Faith is like a muscle. It doesn’t grow unless it’s exercised. And we need to exercise faith in a most practical way. In the midst of the storm, when it seems as though our boat is sinking, we need to choose to be of good cheer. I have discovered over and over that when I make the decision to be strong, to be of good cheer, to not give into tears and fears, that the Lord is truly near.

Faith that works is not only a matter of having devotions in the morning or going to Bible study in the evening, but it’s a matter of speaking out that which we have taken in.

For he has said, I will never leave you, nor forsake you. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper and I will not fear what man shall do to me. – Hebrews 13:5–6. Next time you are fearful about the future, boldly speak out what He has already said, and watch your faith grow.

Pastor William Del Casale

Jesus was explaining to His disciples the signs of His second coming, and issues a warning here for us to not let His return come on us unexpectedly, and He specifically mentions three things that can weigh down our hearts and cause us to become off guard. The first two items, carousing and drunkenness, ought to be readily apparent if they have crept into our lives. However, the third item the “cares of this life” is the easiest one to creep in and the hardest one to detect.

Job, school, homework, commute, doctor’s appointments, car repairs, grocery shopping, chores, children’s sporting events, birthday parties, graduations, vacations and on and on. On top of that, throw in things like financial worries, job security, your own health issues or those of a family member. (In case you are wondering where social media fits into all of this, carousing can also be translated as dissipation, and social media certainly fits that bill.) All of these things can crowd Jesus out of our lives, and we don’t notice it because these things in and of themselves seem innocuous, but on the whole they place a weight on our heart. Jesus though does not leave us without a solution. He tell us in verse 36 to watch and pray always. What does this mean practically? Pray Jesus into the mundane of our lives. Bring Him into all of our cares and worries. He wants to walk with us daily and wants us to fellowship with Him. How glorious that our Savior cares so deeply for us! May we lead prayerful lives, and be on the lookout for His return

Jeff Mericle

The crucifixion of Jesus on the cross and His resurrection from the dead three days later are the most important events in all of history. They were planned before the world was and will be celebrated forever in heaven. His blood bought us our redemption. His death absorbed the wrath of God that we deserved. The justice of God was satisfied, the mercy of God was realized, and the grace of God was demonstrated. The glory of God shines brightest through the cross.

These wonderful truths should not just be facts we understand intellectually, but they should stir in our hearts wonder, amazement, praise, and thankfulness. They should ignite our emotions in an overflowing joy unspeakable and full of glory as we behold the Lamb of God, our Savior. He is our Lamb whose blood has made possible the forgiveness of all our sin according to the riches of His grace which He lavished upon us. The immensity of the price that purchased our forgiveness is expressed here, for the riches of His grace are immeasurable.

The astonishment of the psalmist in the light of this truth compelled him to exclaim, “As high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His compassion toward those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us!” (Psalm 103:11-12)

This is the story that should never grow old, but should stir us every morning to live lives that demonstrate the infinite value of Jesus Christ—to live for His glory. Since His grace and love was lavished on an undeserving sinner such as I, then surely I should lavish grace and love on the undeserving around me, without resentment. We were all created to showcase His glory, so shine for Him today!

Tom Day

The previous verses to this passage above speak towards living in the Spirit of God verses continuing to live in the flesh that we have been freed from once we put our faith in Jesus Christ. We have a new identity, a new man (or woman) where we have access to God as the Holy Spirit now lives in us. However, living out our new identity will come with certain sufferings. We have to resist certain habits and tendencies that we used to carelessly enjoy in our flesh that we can longer enjoy being in the Spirit. Putting off these things do come at a cost and sometimes that cost is so great that it feels like suffering.

But Paul encourages us in our fight to remain living in the Spirit of God that any suffering we face for Jesus now, will seem to be of little significance when we finally get to be with Jesus face to face. Meaning, everything we do today that costs us now, will be oh so ever worth it later.

You never lose doing it Jesus’ way, no matter how much your flesh groans the opposite.

Pastor Jason Witt

Jesus says in Matthew 7:13 that wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction. At the time you are on this wide path, it seems like you are going the right direction. You see everyone going the same way. Everyone seems to agree on the same things. It seems right, yet the end of the road here is death. Jesus in the next verse says, because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life.

The warning is to pay attention to the road you are on. When I get on the freeway to head to San Francisco, I need to pay attention to where I am going. If for some reason the signs say San Diego, you can be assured that I will not make it to my destination. If it seems right and feels right, I’d caution you that it’s probably a good idea to check where that path leads to.

Join me on that narrow and difficult path which leads to life.

Joshua Navarro

Prior to this verse, Jesus had fed over 5,000 hungry people who had traveled to see Him. The Lord’s compassion for the crowd moved Him to multiply one boy’s lunch, miraculously feeding everyone in attendance with leftovers to go. Jesus demonstrated His capability to meet the needs of those who would seek Him using a physical example, but He wanted them to understand that He could feed a person’s soul with heavenly nourishment forevermore.

Many did follow Jesus to His next destination, but for some, it was the earthly bread that they were after. The Lord has so much more to offer than bodily sustenance. For the believer who desires to feast on His word, digest His precepts, and be filled with His Spirit, the hunger and thirst of the soul will never lack fulfillment. Today, may we long to be richly fed with the love and righteousness that only Jesus Christ can provide. Bon Appétit!

Jeff Deal

There is great power in your story and people need to hear it. Many times, we think that there are issues that we need to work through before the Lord can use us and our testimony. But the truth is you will always be working through issues and if you are waiting to be perfect, have the Bible memorized, or have a testimony that rivals others, you will be with Jesus before you ever share your story and that would be a shame.

The power of your testimony is in God and the lengths He went to make you right with Him. Your testimony is your walk with Jesus now, that’s why it’s so precious. People don’t see who you were, but they do see who you are now in Christ.

How many can be reached through the hearing of your testimony? I don’t know and neither will you unless you step out and share it. Why don’t you tell someone what Jesus has done for you and find out?

Pastor Doug Hardin