DID JESUS GIVE MALCHUS EARS TO HEAR? All of the gospels tell the story of the high priests servant losing an ear to one of the disciples swords. Yet, only John names names. We are not surprised to learn that the sword belonged to Simon Peter, but we are somewhat amazed to learn the name

CHRISTS JOY COMPLETED IN US What is this joy that resides in Christ? Isnt it the continual, irrepressible joy that He shares in fellowship with the Father? As Jesus prayed in anticipation for His return to the Father, He prayed that we might become one in this same fellowship. And by being one in fellowship

YOU CAN HAVE PEACE AMIDST SUFFERING True peace is not found in a trouble-free place, but in a Person. This peace is not about the absence of trouble, but the abiding presence of Jesus Christ. For trials and sorrows are inevitable in this world, but Christ has overcome them all. So, true peace is found

ARE YOU ABIDING IN CHRIST? The abundant life begins with salvation, yet here in John 15, Jesus is speaking of the fruitful life that becomes evident as we continually remain in Him. We understand that our salvation is accomplished by Christ and by no effort of our own. Yet, after receiving this salvation, we often

BECAUSE HE LIVES Jesus encouraged His disciples with the promise of His resurrection life. For in His coming resurrection, He would provide for them both proof and pledge of their own resurrection and life.   Because He lives we have proof that Christ is the Victor over sin, death and the grave. The tomb is

FOR WHOM DO YOU CELEBRATE? When David came leaping and dancing as he led the procession that brought the Ark into Jerusalem, his wife, Michal despised him for it. She spoke sarcastically to him as he arrived, saying, How the king of Israel has honored himself today, accusing him of acting shamelessly as one of

SERVE ONE ANOTHER On the night of the last supper, Jesus got up from the table, laid aside His robe, took a towel and tied it around His waist, then He poured water in a basin and began to wash His disciples feet, drying them with the towel. Peter told Jesus that He would never

WHO IS THIS SON OF MAN? Those who called out to Jesus from the crowd were correct to assume that Son of Man was in fact a Messianic title. Certainly, it was the title of the exalted figure that appeared before the throne of God in the prophet Daniels vision in Daniel 7. So serious

LEARNING TO ENCOURAGE YOURSELF IN THE LORD When David and his 600 men returned to their hometown of Ziklag, they found it burning and their families taken captive by the Amalekites. David and his troops wept loudly until they were without strength. His men were so distraught that they even spoke of stoning David. Yet

NEW LIFE, NEW CLOTHES! When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, He instructed his family and friends to help him out of his graveclothes. Surely the clothes must have smelled of death just as Martha had warned, for Lazarus had been dead for four days. The dead man Lazarus was raised to life by the