How is hope still possible when we feel empty and bitter? When the hand of the Lord seems to be against us, it is time to turn around!

Our natural goal is the make visible about ourselves what we deem most beautiful, and to hide what is most ugly. As Kingdom people we are to live so that what is most beautiful about us is what is most hidden.

We live from the inside out; what we do in the name of the Lord is from our hearts, not for self-gratification.

When Jesus “fulfills” the Law, He internalizes and amplifies it. We can no longer use the Law to condemn others or justify ourselves. Our situation has not improved, but gotten worse.

We are called to be salt and light, ordinary and valuable, enlivening and useful. Are we?

In Genesis 1, God called the worlds into existence with ten words. In Matthew 5-7, Christ called a new people into existence with ten words. God called what was not into being, to obey the Word that made us and display His Glory. Will you be part of what God is doing?

To receive the call, we fall to our knees, “I am a sinner!” and receive the promise “I will make you…,” but will we confess?

In exhorting two church leaders, and how the church should help them, Paul answers a key question for all of us - “how do we deal with troubles that are beyond our control?”

If the mature are those who realize they still need maturing, then we are called to progress together toward our singular goal regardless “if you think differently on anything” so that our singular focus is Christ Jesus – He is both our goal and our prize.