In these books of John, in the New Testament, Chapters 7 and 8 is where we find some interesting events happening in regard to Jesus, especially when He encounters conflict with the religious leaders in Galilee. Jesus did not want to travel to Judea because the Jews were trying to kill Him. During the Festival of Tabernacles, which commemorated the days when the Israelites wandered in the wilderne...  Read More

Matthew 18 is loaded with awesome parables, that Jesus uses to teach the disciples & us, how to live.  Some of these lessons seem pretty easy to understand, and some eh not so easy to understand, or rather, not so easy to do!  “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great mil...  Read More

The 17th chapter of Matthew begins with the Transfiguration on the Mountain, which was a vision, a brief glimpse of the true glory of the King.  This was a special revelation of Jesus’ divinity to three of the disciples, and it was God’s divine affirmation of everything Jesus had done and was about to do.  The Transfiguration was a foretaste of heaven; the participants were doing something worth n...  Read More

Around this time, 15 years ago, with the youth group I belonged to, we did a play called “Take up your cross and follow me”. What I can recall from it, is how several young men and ladies in the story are trying to figure out in today’s world and in different social interactions the call Jesus made thousands of years ago: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cros...  Read More

Matthew 15 addresses two key areas that define genuine faith: the contrast between human tradition and God's commandments (vv. 1-20), and the contrast between limited privilege and limitless faith (vv. 21-28). Jesus shifts the focus from outward religious practice to the inward condition of the heart, and from the boundaries of His initial ministry to the breadth of His compassion.REAL LIFE Princi...  Read More

John chapter 6 is a pivotal passage, beginning with the miracle of feeding the 5,000 and culminating in Jesus' powerful and challenging teaching: "I am the bread of life." This chapter invites us to look beyond temporary fixes and find our ultimate sustenance and satisfaction in Jesus Christ alone.REAL Principle: Seek Spiritual Sustenance over Physical ProvisionJohn 6:26-27, 35 "Jesus answered the...  Read More

All of these chapters in the Bible share one of the greatest miracles in Jesus’ ministry that was recorded. The feeding of the five thousand. An amazing story of how Jesus multiplied 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread to feed more than enough for all the people who were there for Him.But today I want us to focus not on the miracle itself, but on a specific word in this story. The bible says Jesus saw th...  Read More

"Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves... Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Therefore do not fear; you are of more value than many sparrows." The Great Contradiction:In Matthew 10, Jesus commissions His dis...  Read More

In Mark chapter 4, we see several well known parables. This devotional is going to focus on the story of Jesus calming the storm at the end of the chapter. After a long day of teaching by the Sea of Galilee, Jesus tells His disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” They take Him in the boat, and other boats follow. As they sail, a fierce storm arises — strong winds and waves begin to swamp th...  Read More

When we have a message or point, we are trying to share, we use illustrations or examples to do our best to communicate that message.  Jesus does this with parables.  He understands each of us.  All of us.   Some say parables are earthly stories with a heavenly message.   Matthew chapter 13 is all about Parables.  The heavenly Message – The Kingdom of Heaven, mentioned 13 times in this chapter.  T...  Read More

There must have been something special about watching Jesus pray that made the apostles want to learn how to pray as Jesus prayed.The disciples saw Jesus heal people, turn water into wine, among other miracles. But never asked to learn those things, only “teach us to pray”. Earthly fathers are not perfectly good. They’re not perfectly wise. God is.When we ask for strength, Jesus doesn’t just give ...  Read More

Matthew 11 starts off with a question from John the Baptist…Are you (Jesus) the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?  Whoa, bold words there Ole’ Cousin John.  If you have seen The Chosen, then you should remember that scene in Season 3, Episode 6, it was a good one.  Two of John the Baptist’s disciples came up to Jesus and said they needed to speak to Him. Instead of pulling them asi...  Read More

“When He saw the crowds, He had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” — Matthew 9:36Jesus models a ministry that is holistic—He teaches, proclaims, and heals. But what drives Him is not just duty—it’s compassion. He sees the spiritual and physical condition of the people and responds with urgency. Then He turns to His disciples and invites th...  Read More

Real Life Principle: Discernment with HumilityJesus begins the chapter with a warning: “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.” (v.1). But He doesn’t call us to abandon discernment—He calls us to exercise it with humility. Before correcting others, we must examine our own hearts.Jesus isn’t saying we should ignore sin or truth—He’s teaching us to examine our own hearts first. Before we correct o...  Read More

Matthew chapter 12 presents Jesus challenging the rigid legalism of the Pharisees, asserting His divine authority, and speaking powerfully about the inner condition of the heart. The chapter reveals that the true focus of faith is not in the outward performance of rules, but in the inward posture of love, mercy, and recognition of Christ's lordship.Scripture Focus: Matthew 12:7-8, "And if you had ...  Read More

  John 5 is a rich chapter that reveals Jesus’ authority, compassion, and call to spiritual awakening. The healing at the pool of Bethesda and His bold confrontation with religious leaders offer powerful lessons for the church today.John 5:1-9 — Healing at the pool of BethesdaJohn 5:16-30 — Jesus’ authority and unity with the FatherJohn 5:39-40 — The call to respond to Scripture and believe"Do you...  Read More

 Matthew 8 is rich with demonstrations of Jesus’ authority—over sickness, storms, spiritual forces, and even social boundaries. It’s a powerful chapter for stirring faith and calling the church to bold trust and compassionate action.Matthew 8:1-4 — Jesus heals a man with leprosyMatthew 8:5-13 — The faith of the centurionMatthew 8:23-27 — Jesus calms the stormMatthew 8:28-34 — Jesus delivers two de...  Read More

John 2:1–11 — The wedding at Cana, John 2:13–22 — The cleansing of the temple Jesus Transforms What We Surrender "Fill the jars with water." So they filled them to the brim. — John 2:7Real-Life Principle: When we offer Jesus what we have—even if it seems ordinary—He can transform it into something extraordinary for His glory.Relevant Life Application:In ministry: Encourage leaders and volunteers t...  Read More

In Mathew chapter 4, we see a lot of important events like the temptation of Jesus, the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, the calling of the first disciples and Jesus ministering to crowds around Galilee. We are going to look at and focus on the temptations of Jesus. After Jesus is baptized, He is led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit to fast for 40 days and is tempted by satan 3 times. The first...  Read More

“Behold, the voice of one crying in the wilderness! In these 3 chapters, we find some history on John the Baptist,  his encounter and baptism of Jesus, and some of the early works of Jesus after His temptation. One of my favorite  Christmas stories is when Mary visits Elizabeth and John LEAPS in the womb of Mary, and preparing this devotional made me immediately think of the story. We find the rec...  Read More

Matthew 2 is not just a quiet Christmas story; it is a collision of kingdoms. On one side, foreign Magi travel hundreds of miles to find the newborn King. On the other, Herod, the self-proclaimed “King of the Jews,” trembles at the news and schemes to protect his throne.Both hear about Jesus. Both are moved by His arrival. But one group comes to worship. The other comes to destroy.The Magi shouldn...  Read More

The God of History and Hope Matthew 1:21-23 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel" (which means, God with us). The Genealogy of Grace (Matthew 1:1-17) Real Life Principle: God is Faithful to His Plan, Even Through Imperfect People. The long list of names in the genealogy (verses 1-17) proves that Jesus is the promised Messiah, descended from Abraham and King David. But if you look closely, this family tree is messy. It includes: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba: Women, some of whom were Gentiles or involved in questionable circumstances, yet God specifically includes them. Kings and sinners: Great heroes of faith alongside people who committed murder, adultery, and idolatry. Relevant Life Application Embrace Your Story: Your past, your family background, your mistakes, and your current circumstances do not disqualify you from God's plan. The genealogy shows that God uses all kinds of people—even the flawed, the outcast, and the unexpected—to fulfill His perfect purposes. Ready Action Step: Stop letting past failures or current weaknesses define your future. Know that God can write the story of His grace into your life today.  Read More

Scripture Focus: John 1:1–14 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God... The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us."John opens his Gospel not with a manger, but with majesty. He takes us back to the beginning—not just of Jesus’ earthly life, but of creation itself. The Word (Logos) is eternal, divine, and personal. And this Word didn’t stay distant...  Read More

Wow! We have been on a long journey. As we are closing the Old Testament, we read Malachi. You would think it’s a happy sweet book because it comes right before the gospels, that people are in the rebuilt temple offering real and truthful offerings or worship. Unfortunately, it’s the complete opposite situation. Its first three chapters, the author is sharing God’s message to his people as a dialogue. In a nutshell, God is telling them they have been unfaithful, misbehaved and disrespected Him. The priests are a sham, they know how sacrifices should be made and have been giving the least and most despicable offerings. Nevertheless, chapters 3 and 4 share the prophecy that there will be a messenger (John the Baptist) preparing the way for Jesus. Who will come to renew and refine his people. Real: Life Principles  God loves us: As we have read in the entire OT, we see how God has loved his people and is proof He loves us. The mighty things He has done for them represent that amazing love He has for them and still does.  God is dishonored with blemished offerings: I don’t know what His people in this time thought, I believe they thought “let’s do this our way, no one will never know”. Hey! God is watching, He knows!! What we give Him must be the best. Always!  God is asking for faithfulness and integrity: The Israelites during this time were unfaithful with God and their wives too; by this time, we all know God loathes it. He wants us whole, not in pieces. He wants our faithfulness and to also demonstrate it in different areas of our lives. This makes me ask: are we walking the walk we talk? Relevant: Life Applications  God loves us and we don’t have to doubt it: The representation of the Israelites when they ask in verse 1:2 “How have you loved us?” makes me remember when I was young and impertinent with my parents. I would ask things, thinking I was smarter or trying to make them feel they had failed on something; just to find out minutes later, I needed to get under a rock, and I was utterly wrong. God loves us so much and through the reading and study of His word we can learn it. Daily in the big and the small He still demonstrates it. Ponder on how He has blessed you until now.  Walk the talk: Israelites had made a promise to God and were not living up to it. Are we calling ourselves (or writing in the headings of our social media pages) “Believers”, “Christians”, “Jesus follower” but are we really living up to it? Are we living in integrity? Are we faithful in and out of church? Or do people know two versions of us? Are we living the: “yeah! Let’s keep on rolling... no one will ever know” lifestyle? Well, you know now how it works. God does know, and he doesn’t like it.  What are we bringing to God? Are we bringing to the altar the best or just our leftovers (it can be applied to time, service, money, attention, worship)? Thanks God we no longer need to offer a sacrifice; Jesus was the perfect sacrifice. But in Romans 12:1 we are urged to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice. For Christians honoring God as “living sacrifices”, means surrendering to Him entirely and trusting every aspect of our lives under His complete control. Ready: Life Actions  Daily think at least on 5 blessings God has given you and thank Him. Be intentional on reminding yourself God loves you and takes care of you in the big and small aspects of life.  If you have recently become a Christian or are not sure on how to walk the talk; please read and study the book of Ephesians, it’s a short but amazing letter written by Paul that contains instructions for Christian living applied to different areas of our lives.  Are you struggling to walk the talk? Remember we have a gracious and forgiving Father. Confess and repent, share with Him in prayer what’s causing you not to walk in integrity. Let Him take care of it. Remember He is molding you, surrender completely and let Him work. Find an accountability partner (can be a Christian mentor, leader or teacher) that is willing to hear you, support you and give you godly advice during this process. Dear God, Thank you for loving me, for my family and friends, for providing for each of my needs. Forgive me if I have been unfaithful or been living a double life. I need you and want to honor you in every single aspect of my life. Make everyday be more of you and less of me. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.   Read More