“Love Each Other” John 15:9-17

Love. Obey. Joy. Love…
Love for God, says Jesus, is displayed in obedience; it is a choice of both the heart and the will.  Obedience chosen out of love produces joy.  A heart filled with joy loves.
God gave the Israelites 10 commandments.  Jesus give us one: Love each other!  But Jesus didn’t just say, “Love each [...]

Read Full Post »

“Bearing Fruit” John 15:1-8

It is hard to miss the main idea of these verses. 

branches that don’t bear fruit are cut off
branches that do bear fruit are pruned in order to become more fruitful
branches can only bear fruit if they are connected to the vine
branches that stay connected bear much fruit
branches that don’t bear fruit are dead, useless, and [...]

Read Full Post »

“The wedding of the Lamb” Revelation 19:1-10

It is interesting to note that the Bible begins and ends with a wedding.  The Bible starts off with the uniting of Adam and Eve and ends with the uniting of Christ and his Bride, the church. 
Weddings are happy days filled with hope and joy and love.  All those emotions will reach their pinnacle at [...]

Read Full Post »

“Marriage” Matthew 19; Ephesians 5

When asked about the legitimacy of divorce, Jesus took people back to God’s initial intentions and design for marriage.  God had a oneness in mind for man and woman that probably reflected something of the oneness of his nature.  God is three, and He is one.  In other words, God’s intention for marriage was for [...]

Read Full Post »

“The Love for a Bride” Song of Solomon 4; Psalm 45

Adam said of the helper that God provided for him, “This at last is bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh.”  Of all the perfection in the garden, this woman was the only perfect match for him, and he was no longer alone.  We are not told of the emotion he felt at [...]

Read Full Post »

“Straight Talk” Proverbs 5; Proverbs 31

The Bible doesn’t beat around the bush.  It talks straight to men.  Every man should read Proverbs 5 once a week to get a dose of truth in regard to lust.
This is what wisdom tells us.  The lips of an adulteress may drip honey but her seductive ways lead “down to death; her steps lead [...]

Read Full Post »

“Perfect Provision” Genesis 2:18-25

At the end of chapter one, God blessed his new creation and commanded man to be fruitful and multiply. In chapter two of Genesis, we see how God made perfect provision for man to fulfill that command.
First of all, God placed Adam into a garden, where he could happily work at fruitful, fulfilling labor.  Then [...]

Read Full Post »

“The River and Trees of Life” Ezekiel 47 & Revelation 22

In the Garden of Eden, God planted the Tree of Life, which was watered by four mighty rivers. This lush garden was a place where man could meet with God and enjoy Him.
We got ourselves booted out of Eden, but the dream didn’t die.
In Ezekiel we have a description of the New Heavens and [...]

Read Full Post »

“Restoration of Relationship” Jeremiah 31

Jeremiah 31:1  “At that time,” declares the LORD, “I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be My people.”  
From the creation of Adam and Eve in the Garden, God has provided for a relationship between himself and man.  What must that have been like, to walk with God in [...]

Read Full Post »

“…he will make her deserts like Eden.” Psalm 1; Isaiah 51

Eden was lost to us when Adam sinned. Eden was lost but not our longing for it.
It was bad enough that Adam and Eve got kicked out of Eden, but then God’s chosen people, the Jews, got kicked out of the promised land and sent into exile in Assyria and Babylon. They were sent [...]

Read Full Post »